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

Planting zone for 71613 — Pine Bluff, AR

ZIP code 71613 (Pine Bluff, Jefferson County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 14 and the first fall frost November 16.

Where ZIP 71613 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 frostMar 14
First frostNov 16
2012 zone8a

Was 8a 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 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Pine Bluff, AR…

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 Pine Bluff, AR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 16median — 10% chance by Oct 31
Growing season245 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 4 and returns around November 29.

From the NOAA station Pine Bluff, AR — 6 miles away, elevation 230 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 71613

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 21 – Oct 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 2 – Dec 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 14) and first fall frost (Nov 16) 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 71613 came on Feb 13 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 12).

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 Arkansas

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

Trees 71

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °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 °Fbitternut hickory75 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −47 °F

Shrubs 98

alternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °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 175

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 154

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °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 Pine Bluff, AR.

Soil in Pine Bluff, AR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 71613 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 classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Sacul 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 71613; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pine Bluff, AR

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low33 °Faverage low, January
Hot days72days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights50nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,651base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 26 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 52 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation54.9 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 52 °F, low 33 °F 52°33° JanFebruary: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° FebMarch: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 70 °F 89°70° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 72 °F 91°72° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 65 °F 86°65° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 JanFebruary: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 FebMarch: 5.31 in precipitation 5.3 MarApril: 5.63 in precipitation 5.6 AprMay: 5.25 in precipitation 5.3 MayJune: 4.65 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 4.57 in precipitation 4.6 OctNovember: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 NovDecember: 5.63 in precipitation 5.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pine Bluff, AR (6 mi away); precipitation: Pine Bluff 2.0 Sw, AR (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

716038a
Pine Bluff, AR · 3 mi
716128b
White Hall, AR · 8 mi
716028a
White Hall, AR · 9 mi
716118b
Pine Bluff, AR · 10 mi
716018b
Pine Bluff, AR · 10 mi
721528b
Sherrill, AR · 15 mi
720578a
Grapevine, AR · 15 mi
716658a
Rison, AR · 16 mi

All 4 ZIP codes in Pine Bluff → · Arkansas planting zones →

Questions about 71613

What planting zone is ZIP code 71613?

ZIP code 71613 (Pine Bluff, AR) 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 Pine Bluff, AR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 71613 is March 14; after April 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pine Bluff station.

When is the first frost in Pine Bluff, AR?

The median first fall frost near 71613 is November 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 245 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 71613?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 17 – Jan 31 and set transplants outside around Mar 21 – Apr 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 71613 get?

About 54.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pine Bluff 2.0 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Pine Bluff, AR?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 72 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 71613 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Sacul at the center of ZIP 71613: fine sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Pine Bluff, AR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 71613 came on Feb 13 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 12), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pine Bluff, AR?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 71613 is 14 h 26 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 71613 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 71613 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.