Arkansas falls primarily within USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7 and 8 according to the 2023 updated map. The state is divided into four specific zones:
- Zone 7a: Average annual minimum temperatures between 0 and 5°F. This zone covers the northernmost parts of Arkansas, including cities like Bentonville, Bella Vista, Rogers, Springdale, and Fayetteville.
- Zone 7b: Average annual minimum temperatures between 5 and 10°F. This zone lies just south of 7a and includes cities such as Jonesboro, Paragould, Marmaduke, Batesville, and Pleasant Plains.
- Zone 8a: Average annual minimum temperatures between 10 and 15°F. This is the dominant zone in Arkansas, covering cities like Little Rock, Benton, Cabot, Fort Smith, Hot Springs, and Conway.
- Zone 8b: Average annual minimum temperatures between 15 and 20°F. This zone covers the southernmost regions and some eastern border areas, including Pine Bluff, Texarkana, El Dorado, Magnolia, Winchester, and Jerome
These zones help gardeners and farmers select plants that can survive the typical winter lows in their area. Arkansas's climate allows for a wide variety of plants, including warm-season and cool-season grasses, vegetables, trees, and flowers suited to these zones
. In summary, Arkansas is mainly in Zones 7a to 8b, with the majority of the state in Zone 8a
