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

Planting zone for 72118 — North Little Rock, AR

ZIP code 72118 (North Little Rock, Pulaski County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 1 and the first fall frost November 1.

Where ZIP 72118 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostApr 1
First frostNov 1
2012 zone8a

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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for North Little Rock, 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 North Little Rock, AR

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 19
Growing season213 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 17 and returns around November 11.

From the NOAA station Marche, AR — 3 miles away, elevation 272 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 72118

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 6 – Sep 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 18 – Nov 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 1) and first fall frost (Nov 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 72118 came on Feb 13 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 17).

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 8a in Arkansas

516 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arkansas, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. 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 174

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 150

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 North Little Rock, AR.

Soil in North Little Rock, AR

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 72118 is Linker — gravelly fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Linker-Urban land complex, 3 to 8 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 72118; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in North Little Rock, AR

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days81days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights83nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,907base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation55.5 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 50 °F, low 27 °F 50°27° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 30 °F 55°30° FebMarch: average high 64 °F, low 38 °F 64°38° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 46 °F 73°46° AprMay: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 66 °F 89°66° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 69 °F 93°69° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 67 °F 92°67° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 59 °F 86°59° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 47 °F 75°47° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 36 °F 63°36° NovDecember: average high 54 °F, low 30 °F 54°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 JanFebruary: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 FebMarch: 5.28 in precipitation 5.3 MarApril: 5.73 in precipitation 5.7 AprMay: 6.81 in precipitation 6.8 MayJune: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 OctNovember: 5.35 in precipitation 5.3 NovDecember: 5.22 in precipitation 5.2 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

721198a
North Little Rock, AR · 2 mi
721998a
North Little Rock, AR · 2 mi
721138a
Maumelle, AR · 4 mi
722078a
Little Rock, AR · 5 mi
722038a
Little Rock, AR · 5 mi
722278a
Little Rock, AR · 5 mi
721168a
North Little Rock, AR · 5 mi
722168a
Little Rock, AR · 5 mi

All 9 ZIP codes in North Little Rock → · Arkansas planting zones →

Questions about 72118

What planting zone is ZIP code 72118?

ZIP code 72118 (North Little Rock, AR) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in North Little Rock, AR?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 72118 is April 1; after April 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Marche station.

When is the first frost in North Little Rock, AR?

The median first fall frost near 72118 is November 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 213 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 72118?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 4 – Feb 18 and set transplants outside around Apr 8 – Apr 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 72118 get?

About 55.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Marche station).

How hot do summers get in North Little Rock, AR?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 81 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 72118 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Linker at the center of ZIP 72118: gravelly fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in North Little Rock, AR in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 72118 came on Feb 13 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in North Little Rock, AR?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 72118 is 14 h 30 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.