United States regional guide · KS
Permaculture in Kansas
Kansas crosses a rainfall gradient from humid eastern tallgrass country to drier western plains. Wind, drought, hail, and temperature swings favor tough shelterbelts, water-conserving earthworks, and deeply rooted crops.
USDA span
5b–7b
Census region
Midwest
Climate starting point
USDA hardiness zones in Kansas
Kansas includes USDA zones 5b–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 Kansas design
These plants are useful starting points for researching a design in Kansas. Confirm each choice against your exact zone, site conditions, local ecology, and management goals.
American Plum
Prunus americana
- Layer
- Shrub
- Type
- Deciduous Tree
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
- Layer
- Sub-Canopy
- Type
- Deciduous Tree
Silver Buffaloberry
Shepherdia argentea
- Layer
- Shrub
- Type
- Perennial
Sunflower Oilseed
Helianthus annuus
- Layer
- Herbaceous
- Type
- Annual
American Hazelnut
Corylus americana
- Layer
- Shrub
- Type
- Perennial
Yucca Soap
Yucca glauca
- Layer
- Shrub
- Type
- Perennial