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

Planting zone for 75503 — Texarkana, TX

ZIP code 75503 (Texarkana, Bowie County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 15 and the first fall frost November 17.

Where ZIP 75503 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 15
First frostNov 17
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 Texarkana, TX…

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 Texarkana, TX

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 17median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season249 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 1 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Texarkana, TX — 7 miles away, elevation 390 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 75503

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 22 – Oct 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 3 – Dec 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 15) and first fall frost (Nov 17) 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 75503 came on Feb 9 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 8).

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 Texas

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

Trees 70

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 °FArizona cypress50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °FArizona walnut50 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 137

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Faloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °FAmerican snowbell10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −16 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 204

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican 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 licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 188

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °FArizona cottontop4 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °FArizona fescue2 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °FArizona threeawn2 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −3 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °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 Texarkana, TX.

Soil in Texarkana, TX

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 75503 is Billyhaw — clay, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureClayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Billyhaw clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes, rarely flooded.

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 75503; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Texarkana, TX

Summer high94 °Faverage high, August
Winter low33 °Faverage low, January
Hot days82days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights46nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,844base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 56 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation53.3 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 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° JanFebruary: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 70 °F 89°70° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 73 °F 93°73° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 72 °F 94°72° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° NovDecember: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 JanFebruary: 4.61 in precipitation 4.6 FebMarch: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 MarApril: 4.84 in precipitation 4.8 AprMay: 5.46 in precipitation 5.5 MayJune: 4.95 in precipitation 5.0 JunJuly: 3.28 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 OctNovember: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 NovDecember: 5.25 in precipitation 5.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Texarkana, TX (7 mi away); precipitation: Wake Village 0.8 Wnw, TX (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

755698b
Nash, TX · 5 mi
755058b
Texarkana, TX · 5 mi
755048b
Texarkana, TX · 8 mi
755078b
Texarkana, TX · 8 mi
755998b
Texarkana, TX · 8 mi
755618b
Hooks, TX · 8 mi
755018b
Texarkana, TX · 10 mi
718228b
Ashdown, AR · 11 mi

All 6 ZIP codes in Texarkana → · Texas planting zones →

Questions about 75503

What planting zone is ZIP code 75503?

ZIP code 75503 (Texarkana, TX) 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 Texarkana, TX?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 75503 is March 15; after April 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Texarkana station.

When is the first frost in Texarkana, TX?

The median first fall frost near 75503 is November 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 249 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 75503?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 18 – Feb 1 and set transplants outside around Mar 22 – Apr 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 75503 get?

About 53.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wake Village 0.8 Wnw station).

How hot do summers get in Texarkana, TX?

The average high peaks at 94 °F in August, with about 82 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 75503 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Billyhaw at the center of ZIP 75503: clay, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Texarkana, TX in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 75503 came on Feb 9 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Texarkana, TX?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 75503 is 14 h 23 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 75503 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 75503 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.