What Planting Zones Are in Arkansas?
Arkansas spans USDA hardiness zones 7a to 8b, where the average coldest winter night ranges from 0 °F to 20 °F (−17.8 °C to −6.7 °C). Zone 8a covers the most ZIP codes, 54%, and zones 7a to 8b together cover 100% of the state.
Bars show each zone's share of the 694 Arkansas ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are Arkansas Cities In?
Little Rock is in zone 8a, Fayetteville is in zone 7a, Fort Smith is in zone 8a and Springdale is in zone 7a. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 18 Arkansas cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | 72204 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 21 | Nov 10 |
| Fayetteville | 72730 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 15 | Oct 21 |
| Fort Smith | 72903 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 25 | Nov 6 |
| Springdale | 72762 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 4 | Oct 31 |
| Jonesboro | 72467 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 1 | Nov 1 |
| Rogers | 72758 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 12 | Oct 26 |
| Conway | 72034 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Apr 2 | Nov 2 |
| North Little Rock | 72116 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 16 | Nov 16 |
| Bentonville | 72712 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 12 | Oct 26 |
| Pine Bluff | 71603 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 14 | Nov 16 |
| Benton | 72022 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 24 | Nov 7 |
| Hot Springs | 71913 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 19 | Nov 13 |
| Paragould | 72450 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Mar 26 | Nov 6 |
| Russellville | 72801 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 29 | Nov 2 |
| Texarkana | 71854 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 13 | Nov 13 |
| Cabot | 72023 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Apr 4 | Oct 31 |
| Searcy | 72143 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
| West Memphis | 72301 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 19 | Nov 10 |
Zone: 2023 USDA ZIP code table for the ZIP code nearest each city's Census center point. Frost dates: 50% (median) dates from the nearest NOAA station, 1991–2020 normals. Cities: the largest Arkansas places by 2024 Census population estimates, spread across the state, plus the largest place in each common zone. Large cities can span two half zones.
Which Parts of Arkansas Are in Each Zone?
Zone 7a, the coldest Arkansas zone, covers 11% of ZIP codes around Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers. Zone 8b, the warmest, covers 13% around Texarkana, El Dorado and Magnolia. The table lists the largest places in every zone.
| Zone | Avg. coldest night | Share of ZIPs | Largest places in this zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | 11% (78) | Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville |
| Zone 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | 22% (156) | Jonesboro, Paragould, Harrison, Batesville |
| Zone 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | 54% (372) | Little Rock, Fort Smith, Conway, North Little Rock |
| Zone 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | 13% (88) | Texarkana, El Dorado, Magnolia, Monticello |
Places: incorporated places with 1,000+ residents, assigned the zone of the ZIP code nearest their Census center point.
What Do the Hardiness Zones Mean for Arkansas Gardeners?
A Arkansas gardener in zone 8b sees winter lows about 15 °F milder than one in zone 7a, so a shrub or perennial that thrives in one part of the state can die in another. Choose plants rated to your own ZIP code's zone or colder.
Hardiness zones follow latitude, elevation and large bodies of water rather than state lines. Higher ground and inland valleys that trap cold air usually sit in colder half zones, while cities, coasts and large lakes moderate winter lows. Within Arkansas, a plant labelled “zones 7–8” survives winter in at least 100% of ZIP codes, but plants at the edge of their range benefit from mulch and a sheltered spot. Enter a ZIP code in the USDA hardiness zone finder by ZIP code to check your exact half zone before buying perennials.
A zone describes winter cold only. Summer heat, humidity, rainfall and soil decide whether a cold-hardy plant thrives, and planting dates for vegetables follow frost dates, not zones: two Arkansas towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across Arkansas?
229 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 7a to 8b, the zones that cover 100% of Arkansas ZIP codes. Popular examples include hydrangea, peony and daisy.
Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Zone 5 – 9
AI generated
Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
- DaisyBellis perennisPlantoScan
Daisy
Bellis perennis
Zone 4a – 8b
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum morifolium
Zone 5a – 9b
PlantoscanAI generated
Poppy
Papaver somniferum
Zone 3a – 9b
AI generated
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus
Zone 5a – 9b
AI generated
Daffodil
Narcissus poeticus
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
Azalea
Azalea indica
Zone 6a – 9b
AI generated
Arugula
Eruca sativa
Zone 5a – 10b
AI generated
Hardiness ranges come from PlantoScan's plant database; gardeners in Arkansas's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in Arkansas?
Across most Arkansas ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between March 16 and April 9, from March 13 in Texarkana to April 15 in Fayetteville. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for Arkansas cities include the safer 90% planting date, the fall frost date, growing season length and a tomato planting table for each city.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What planting zone is Arkansas?
- Arkansas spans USDA hardiness zones 7a to 8b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 8a is the most common, covering 54% of the state's 694 ZIP codes, and zones 7a to 8b together cover 100%.
- What hardiness zone is Little Rock, Arkansas?
- Little Rock is in USDA hardiness zone 8a (ZIP 72204), where the average coldest winter night reaches 10 °F to 15 °F. Its average last spring frost is March 21 and its first fall frost November 10.
- What hardiness zone is Fayetteville, Arkansas?
- Fayetteville is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (ZIP 72730), where the average coldest winter night reaches 0 °F to 5 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 15 and its first fall frost October 21.
- What hardiness zone is Fort Smith, Arkansas?
- Fort Smith is in USDA hardiness zone 8a (ZIP 72903), where the average coldest winter night reaches 10 °F to 15 °F. Its average last spring frost is March 25 and its first fall frost November 6.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in Arkansas?
- Zone 7a (0 °F to 5 °F) is the coldest zone in Arkansas, found in 78 ZIP codes around Fayetteville and Springdale. The warmest is zone 8b (15 °F to 20 °F), around Texarkana and El Dorado.
Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code table, USDA Agricultural Research Service and the PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, used without changes. Frost dates: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals. City locations and populations: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files and Vintage 2024 population estimates. PlantoScan is not affiliated with or endorsed by these agencies.