United States regional guide · IA

Permaculture in Iowa

Iowa’s rolling prairie landscape has cold winters, hot humid summers, rich soils, and persistent wind. Perennial systems benefit from wind protection, water infiltration, and species able to handle both seasonal extremes.

USDA span

4b–6a

Census region

Midwest

Climate starting point

USDA hardiness zones in Iowa

Iowa includes USDA zones 4b–6a. 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.

Zone 4bZone 5aZone 5bZone 6a

Regional plant starting points

Plants to explore for a Iowa design

These plants are useful starting points for researching a design in Iowa. Confirm each choice against your exact zone, site conditions, local ecology, and management goals.

01Zones 3–8

American Plum

Prunus americana

Layer: Shrub
Type: Deciduous Tree

02Zones 2–6

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana

Layer: Sub-Canopy
Type: Deciduous Tree

03Zones 3–9

Silver Buffaloberry

Shepherdia argentea

Layer: Shrub
Type: Perennial

04Zones 2–11

Sunflower Oilseed

Helianthus annuus

Layer: Herbaceous
Type: Annual

05Zones 4–9

American Hazelnut

Corylus americana

Layer: Shrub
Type: Perennial

06Zones 3–9

Asparagus

Asparagus officinalis

Layer: Herbaceous
Type: Perennial

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