Illinois Climate Snapshot
Understanding your local climate is key to creating a thriving, low-maintenance garden
Hardiness Zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
Annual Rainfall
32-40 inches annually
Frost Window
October-May
Water Notes
Adequate rainfall; occasional summer drought
Popular Landscaping Styles
Discover design styles perfectly suited to Illinois's unique climate and landscape
Native tallgrass prairie with wildflowers and grasses
Key Features:
- •Big bluestem and Indian grass
- •Coneflowers and black-eyed susans
- •Prairie blazing star
- •Naturalized drifts and waves
Native plants supporting monarch butterflies and native bees
Key Features:
- •Milkweed species
- •Asters and goldenrod
- •Continuous bloom succession
- •Host plants for caterpillars
Compact design mixing ornamentals, herbs, and edibles for city lots
Key Features:
- •Raised bed vegetable garden
- •Climbing vines on fences
- •Container plantings
- •Vertical gardening solutions
Woodland plants thriving under tree canopy
Key Features:
- •Hostas and ferns
- •Spring ephemeral wildflowers
- •Native shrubs like spicebush
- •Mulched woodland paths
Recommended Plant Palettes
Native and adapted plants that thrive in Illinois's climate
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Pink-purple daisy flowers; drought-tolerant once established
Prairie Dropseed
Sporobolus heterolepis
Fine-textured grass with fragrant flowers
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
Yucca-like foliage with white spherical flowers
Wild Quinine
Parthenium integrifolium
White flower clusters; tough prairie perennial
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Pink flower clusters; essential for monarch larvae
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Purple fall flowers; critical for migrating monarchs
Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium maculatum
Tall mauve flower clusters attract many butterflies
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Bright orange flowers; non-spreading milkweed
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Blue-green summer color; russet fall and winter
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Yellow daisy flowers; reseeds readily
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Lavender flowers; aromatic foliage
Stiff Goldenrod
Solidago rigida
Yellow fall flowers; doesn't spread aggressively
Seasonal Garden Checklist
Your year-round guide to maintaining a beautiful Illinois garden
Cut back prairie plants to 4-6 inches
Burn or mow prairie areas (if applicable)
Plant container-grown natives
Weed new plantings regularly
Divide perennials and collect seeds
Leave seed heads for winter birds
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about landscaping in Illinois
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