Indiana Climate Snapshot
Understanding your local climate is key to creating a thriving, low-maintenance garden
Hardiness Zones
5b, 6a, 6b
Annual Rainfall
40-45 inches annually
Frost Window
May-October
Water Notes
Regular rainfall; humid summers
Popular Landscaping Styles
Discover design styles perfectly suited to Indiana's unique climate and landscape

Classic mixed perennial garden
Key Features:
- ā¢Coneflowers and daylilies
- ā¢Peonies
- ā¢Ornamental grasses
- ā¢Layered heights

Native prairie restoration
Key Features:
- ā¢Big bluestem
- ā¢Prairie wildflowers
- ā¢Pollinator plants
- ā¢Low maintenance

Shade garden with natives
Key Features:
- ā¢Native ferns
- ā¢Spring wildflowers
- ā¢Hostas
- ā¢Naturalistic design

Informal cottage style
Key Features:
- ā¢Mixed perennials
- ā¢Climbing roses
- ā¢Herbs
- ā¢Picket fences
Recommended Plant Palettes
Native and adapted plants that thrive in Indiana's climate

Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
State flower; fragrant blooms

Tulip Tree
Liriodendron tulipifera
State tree with unique flowers

Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Scarlet red spikes

Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Yellow spring flowers

Daylily
Hemerocallis spp.
Countless varieties

Hosta
Hosta spp.
Shade-loving

Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Drought-tolerant

Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Golden flowers

Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Copper fall color

Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Upright architectural

Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Tall prairie grass

Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Golden plumes
Seasonal Garden Checklist
Your year-round guide to maintaining a beautiful Indiana garden
Plant bulbs
Mulch beds
Plan garden
Start seeds
Plant vegetables
Harvest crops
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about landscaping in Indiana
Ready to Design Your Indiana Garden?
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