Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 71065 — Pleasant Hill, LA

ZIP code 71065 (Pleasant Hill, Sabine County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 20 and the first fall frost November 9.

Where ZIP 71065 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 20
First frostNov 9
2012 zone8b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Pleasant Hill, LA…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Pleasant Hill, LA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 9median — 10% chance by Oct 26
Growing season236 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 6 and returns around November 24.

From the NOAA station Many, LA — 16 miles away, elevation 256 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 71065

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 6 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 9 – Jan 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 23 – Feb 6
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 9 – Jan 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 14 – Sep 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 26 – Nov 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 20) and first fall frost (Nov 9) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 71065 came on Jan 30 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 31).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 8b in Louisiana

503 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Louisiana, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 68

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Fbald cypress130 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °F

Shrubs 105

aloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 165

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican century plant6 ft · blooms indeterminate · high shade tolerance · to 12 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °F

Grasses 145

American cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbig cordgrass8 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −3 °F

Vines 14

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Pleasant Hill, LA.

Soil in Pleasant Hill, LA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 71065 is Sacul — fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Sacul fine sandy loam, 5 to 12 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 71065; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pleasant Hill, LA

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low35 °Faverage low, January
Hot days84days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights39nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,855base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 04 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation58.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 44 °F 70°44° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 68 °F 89°68° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 72 °F 92°72° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 70 °F 92°70° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 52 °F 79°52° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° NovDecember: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 5.43 in precipitation 5.4 JanFebruary: 4.72 in precipitation 4.7 FebMarch: 5.52 in precipitation 5.5 MarApril: 5.07 in precipitation 5.1 AprMay: 6.27 in precipitation 6.3 MayJune: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 5.00 in precipitation 5.0 OctNovember: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 NovDecember: 5.78 in precipitation 5.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Many, LA (16 mi away); precipitation: Pleasant Hill 10.2 Se, LA (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

714068b
Belmont, LA · 5 mi
714508b
Marthaville, LA · 6 mi
710638b
Pelican, LA · 8 mi
714198b
Converse, LA · 13 mi
714868b
Zwolle, LA · 15 mi
714699a
Robeline, LA · 16 mi
714628b
Noble, LA · 17 mi
710528b
Mansfield, LA · 17 mi

Louisiana planting zones →

Questions about 71065

What planting zone is ZIP code 71065?

ZIP code 71065 (Pleasant Hill, LA) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Pleasant Hill, LA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 71065 is March 20; after April 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Many station.

When is the first frost in Pleasant Hill, LA?

The median first fall frost near 71065 is November 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 236 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 71065?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 23 – Feb 6 and set transplants outside around Mar 27 – Apr 10, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 71065 get?

About 58.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pleasant Hill 10.2 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Pleasant Hill, LA?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 84 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 71065 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Sacul at the center of ZIP 71065: fine sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Pleasant Hill, LA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 71065 came on Jan 30 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pleasant Hill, LA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 71065 is 14 h 14 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.