Iowa Climate Snapshot
Understanding your local climate is key to creating a thriving, low-maintenance garden
Hardiness Zones
4b, 5a, 5b, 6a
Annual Rainfall
26-36 inches annually
Frost Window
May-October
Water Notes
Regular rainfall; occasional dry spells
Popular Landscaping Styles
Discover design styles perfectly suited to Iowa's unique climate and landscape
Tallgrass prairie restoration
Key Features:
- ā¢Native grasses
- ā¢Prairie wildflowers
- ā¢Pollinator habitat
- ā¢Low water needs
Traditional Midwest style
Key Features:
- ā¢Mixed perennials
- ā¢Vegetable beds
- ā¢Picket fences
- ā¢Heritage plants
Manage stormwater runoff
Key Features:
- ā¢Native wetland plants
- ā¢Swales
- ā¢Sedges and rushes
- ā¢Bioretention
Native wildflower meadow
Key Features:
- ā¢Coneflowers
- ā¢Milkweed
- ā¢Native grasses
- ā¢Butterfly habitat
Recommended Plant Palettes
Native and adapted plants that thrive in Iowa's climate
Wild Prairie Rose
Rosa arkansana
State flower with pink blooms
Oak
Quercus spp.
State tree; many native species
Compass Plant
Silphium laciniatum
Tall prairie plant with yellow flowers
Leadplant
Amorpha canescens
Purple spikes; deep taproot
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Drought-tolerant
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Golden yellow
Daylily
Hemerocallis spp.
Reliable bloomer
Hosta
Hosta spp.
Shade-loving
Big Bluestem
Andropogon gerardii
Tall prairie grass
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Copper fall color
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Upright native
Indian Grass
Sorghastrum nutans
Golden fall plumes
Seasonal Garden Checklist
Your year-round guide to maintaining a beautiful Iowa garden
Plant bulbs and divide perennials
Mulch beds
Plan garden
Start seeds
Plant vegetables
Harvest and preserve
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about landscaping in Iowa
Ready to Design Your Iowa Garden?
Upload a photo of your yard and get AI-powered garden designs tailored to Iowa's climate with native and adapted plants.
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