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

Planting zone for 71458 — Natchitoches, LA

ZIP code 71458 (Natchitoches, Natchitoches County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is February 28 and the first fall frost December 1.

Where ZIP 71458 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostFeb 28
First frostDec 1
2012 zone8b

Was 8b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 9a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Natchitoches, 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 Natchitoches, 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 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 1median — 10% chance by Nov 10
Growing season275 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 8 and returns around December 21.

From the NOAA station Natchitoches, LA — 2 miles away, elevation 131 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 71458

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 · Oct 6 – Oct 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 17 – Dec 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 28) and first fall frost (Dec 1) 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 71458 came on Jan 31 — 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 9a in Louisiana

517 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Louisiana, and rated by the USDA to survive 20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 69

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 108

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 168

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 150

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 Natchitoches, LA.

Soil in Natchitoches, LA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 71458 is Roxana — very fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureVery fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.3neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Roxana very fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 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 71458; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Natchitoches, LA

Summer high96 °Faverage high, August
Winter low39 °Faverage low, January
Hot days98days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights29nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days7,024base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 13 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
Precipitation55.9 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 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° JanFebruary: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° AprMay: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° JunJuly: average high 95 °F, low 76 °F 95°76° JulAugust: average high 96 °F, low 75 °F 96°75° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° OctNovember: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° NovDecember: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.08 in precipitation 5.1 JanFebruary: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 FebMarch: 5.76 in precipitation 5.8 MarApril: 5.66 in precipitation 5.7 AprMay: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 5.22 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 OctNovember: 4.76 in precipitation 4.8 NovDecember: 5.61 in precipitation 5.6 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

714579a
Natchitoches, LA · <1 mi
714979a
Natchitoches, LA · 1 mi
714149a
Clarence, LA · 6 mi
714719a
Saint Maurice, LA · 7 mi
714289a
Flora, LA · 10 mi
714118b
Campti, LA · 11 mi
710668b
Powhatan, LA · 11 mi
714569a
Natchez, LA · 11 mi

All 3 ZIP codes in Natchitoches → · Louisiana planting zones →

Questions about 71458

What planting zone is ZIP code 71458?

ZIP code 71458 (Natchitoches, LA) is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 20 to 25 °F (−6.7 to −3.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Natchitoches, LA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 71458 is February 28; after March 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Natchitoches station.

When is the first frost in Natchitoches, LA?

The median first fall frost near 71458 is December 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 275 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 71458?

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 71458 get?

About 55.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Natchitoches station).

How hot do summers get in Natchitoches, LA?

The average high peaks at 96 °F in August, with about 98 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 71458 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Roxana at the center of ZIP 71458: very fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.3 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Natchitoches, LA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 71458 came on Jan 31 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 Natchitoches, LA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 71458 is 14 h 13 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 71458 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 71458 in zone 8b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 9a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.