United States regional guide · IL
Permaculture in Illinois
Illinois stretches from cooler Great Lakes influence to warmer southern river country across deep prairie soils. Wind, summer humidity, drainage, and urban heat islands create useful opportunities for shelterbelts and diverse perennial guilds.
USDA span
5a–7b
Census region
Midwest
Climate starting point
USDA hardiness zones in Illinois
Illinois includes USDA zones 5a–7b. Hardiness zones describe typical annual extreme minimum temperatures; within-state elevation, wind, water, soil, and urban heat can change what succeeds on a particular site.
Regional plant starting points
Plants to explore for a Illinois design
These plants are useful starting points for researching a design in Illinois. Confirm each choice against your exact zone, site conditions, local ecology, and management goals.
Crabapple
Malus sylvestris
- Layer
- Sub-Canopy
- Type
- Deciduous Tree
American Plum
Prunus americana
- Layer
- Shrub
- Type
- Deciduous Tree
American Hazelnut
Corylus americana
- Layer
- Shrub
- Type
- Perennial
American Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis
- Layer
- Shrub
- Type
- Perennial
Riverbank Grape
Vitis riparia
- Layer
- Vine
- Type
- Vine
Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis
- Layer
- Herbaceous
- Type
- Perennial