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

Planting zone for 71109 — Shreveport, LA

ZIP code 71109 (Shreveport, Caddo Parish) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 6 and the first fall frost November 19.

Where ZIP 71109 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 6
First frostNov 19
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 Shreveport, 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 Shreveport, LA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 19median — 10% chance by Nov 2
Growing season257 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 20 and returns around December 3.

From the NOAA station Shreveport WFO, LA — 2 miles away, elevation 276 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 71109

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 23 – Feb 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 23 – Feb 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 26 – Jan 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 9 – Jan 23
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 26 – Jan 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 20 – Apr 3
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 24 – Oct 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 5 – Dec 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 6) and first fall frost (Nov 19) 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 71109 came on Feb 8 — 6 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2).

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 Shreveport, LA.

Soil in Shreveport, LA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 71109 is Hallsummit — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.2strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hallsummit fine sandy loam, 1 to 3 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 71109; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Shreveport, LA

Summer high93 °Faverage high, August
Winter low37 °Faverage low, January
Hot days92days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights27nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,145base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 01 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation53 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year; 1 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 56 °F, low 37 °F 56°37° JanFebruary: average high 60 °F, low 41 °F 60°41° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 70 °F 89°70° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 73 °F 93°73° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 67 °F 87°67° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 39 °F 57°39° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.24 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.2 JanFebruary: 4.46 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 4.5❄1 FebMarch: 5.00 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.0 MarApril: 5.17 in precipitation 5.2 AprMay: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 3.95 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 5.09 in precipitation 5.1 OctNovember: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 5.03 in precipitation 5.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Shreveport WFO, LA (2 mi away); precipitation: Shreveport WFO, LA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

711088b
Shreveport, LA · 2 mi
711038b
Shreveport, LA · 3 mi
711018b
Shreveport, LA · 5 mi
711508b
Shreveport, LA · 5 mi
711048b
Shreveport, LA · 5 mi
711188b
Shreveport, LA · 5 mi
711718b
Bossier City, LA · 6 mi
711058b
Shreveport, LA · 6 mi

All 35 ZIP codes in Shreveport → · Louisiana planting zones →

Questions about 71109

What planting zone is ZIP code 71109?

ZIP code 71109 (Shreveport, 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 Shreveport, LA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 71109 is March 6; after March 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shreveport WFO station.

When is the first frost in Shreveport, LA?

The median first fall frost near 71109 is November 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 257 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 71109?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 9 – Jan 23 and set transplants outside around Mar 13 – Mar 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 71109 get?

About 53 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shreveport WFO station).

How hot do summers get in Shreveport, LA?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in August, with about 92 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 71109 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hallsummit at the center of ZIP 71109: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.2 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Shreveport, LA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 71109 came on Feb 8 in 2026, 6 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Shreveport, LA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 71109 is 14 h 17 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.