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

Planting zone for 71171 — Bossier City, LA

ZIP code 71171 (Bossier City, Bossier County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is February 28 and the first fall frost November 24.

Where ZIP 71171 is

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 frostFeb 28
First frostNov 24
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 Bossier City, 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 Bossier City, LA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 24median — 10% chance by Nov 7
Growing season268 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 11 and returns around December 10.

From the NOAA station Shreveport Dwtn Airport, LA — 2 miles away, elevation 180 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 71171

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 17 – Feb 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 20 – Jan 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 20 – Jan 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 29 – Oct 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 10 – Dec 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 28) and first fall frost (Nov 24) 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 71171 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 Bossier City, LA.

Soil in Bossier City, LA

The center of ZIP 71171 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 71171; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bossier City, LA

Summer high95 °Faverage high, July
Winter low39 °Faverage low, January
Hot days96days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights29nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,810base 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
Precipitation53.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 42 °F 62°42° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 66 °F 85°66° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° JunJuly: average high 95 °F, low 76 °F 95°76° JulAugust: average high 95 °F, low 75 °F 95°75° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 68 °F 90°68° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 41 °F 60°41° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.67 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.7 JanFebruary: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 FebMarch: 5.32 in precipitation 5.3 MarApril: 5.27 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 5.04 in precipitation 5.0 OctNovember: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Shreveport Dwtn Airport, LA (2 mi away); precipitation: Shreveport Dwtn, LA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

711508b
Shreveport, LA · <1 mi
711018b
Shreveport, LA · 1 mi
711048b
Shreveport, LA · 2 mi
711038b
Shreveport, LA · 3 mi
711058b
Shreveport, LA · 4 mi
711118b
Bossier City, LA · 5 mi
711098b
Shreveport, LA · 6 mi
711088b
Shreveport, LA · 6 mi

All 5 ZIP codes in Bossier City → · Louisiana planting zones →

Questions about 71171

What planting zone is ZIP code 71171?

ZIP code 71171 (Bossier City, 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 Bossier City, LA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 71171 is February 28; after March 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shreveport Dwtn Airport station.

When is the first frost in Bossier City, LA?

The median first fall frost near 71171 is November 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 268 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 71171?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 3 – Jan 17 and set transplants outside around Mar 7 – Mar 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 71171 get?

About 53.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shreveport Dwtn station).

How hot do summers get in Bossier City, LA?

The average high peaks at 95 °F in July, with about 96 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Bossier City, LA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 71171 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 Bossier City, LA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 71171 is 14 h 17 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.