4 planting zones in Iowa and Map

There are 4 planting zones in Iowa, from zone 4b to zone 6a as per the USDA’s latest official data released in 2023.

Zone 4b, the coldest, is found in the northeastern part of the state, while zones 5a and 5b cover the central regions. Zone 6a, the warmest, is limited to the southernmost tip of the state.

Use our ZIP code tool or Iowa city planting zone map to figure out your USDA growing zone. These tools will show you the exact growing zone for your location.

Search Iowa Plating Zones by ZipCode

Planting Zones Iowa Map

Select your Iowa city in the selection box below. Please change map view by selecting layers from top right corner button in mapview.

What are the 4 planting zones in Iowa?

1. Zone 4b

Zone 4b, shown in purple color on our map, cover a small portion of northeastern Iowa. With average annual minimum temperatures ranging from -25°F to -20°F (-31.7°C to -28.9°C), it is the coldest region in the state. Some cities in this zone are Volga, Cresco, and Elkader. The area is characterized by its rugged terrain and proximity to the Mississippi River valley.

2. Zone 5a

Zone 5a, the dark blue color areas on our map above, includes majority of northern and central Iowa. This zone experiences average annual minimum temperatures between -20°F to -15°F (-28.9°C to -26.1°C). It includes many of Iowa’s larger cities such as Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and Sioux City. The region is known for its rolling prairies and fertile farmland, typical of the Midwest landscape.

3. Zone 5b

Shown in the light green color on our map, Zone 5b covers much of southern Iowa and extends into parts of central Iowa. This zone has average annual minimum temperatures from -15°F to -10°F (-26.1°C to -23.3°C). Some of the Cities from this zone are Council Bluffs, Ottumwa, and Davenport. Geographically the area in this zone transitions from the prairie landscapes of the north to more varied topography with increased forest cover in the south.

4. Zone 6a

Zone 6a, shown in yellow color on the map, is the warmest zone in Iowa and occupies the southernmost tip of the state. With average annual minimum temperatures ranging from -10°F to -5°F (-23.3°C to -20.6°C), this small region experiences slightly milder winters compared to the rest of Iowa. Some cities in this zone are Keokuk and Fort Madison. The area in this zone is characterized by its proximity to the Mississippi River and more diverse ecosystem, with increased woodland areas and unique microclimates influenced by the river valley.

Planting Zones in Iowa with Cities

USDA hardiness zones for Iowa cities, towns and counties. Latest data from : USDA -2023

Planting Zones in Iowa	Temp Range (°F)	Cities
5b	-15 to -10	Ackworth, Adair, Adel, Afton, Agency, Ainsworth, Albia, Alleman, Allerton, Altoona, Amana, Ames, Anita, Ankeny, Arion, Arispe, Atalissa, Avoca, Barnes City, Batavia, Baxter, Beacon, Bedford, Benton, Berwick, Bettendorf, Birmingham, Blakesburg, Blanchard, Blockton, Bloomfield, Blue Grass, Bondurant, Booneville, Braddyville, Bridgewater, Brighton, Buffalo, Bussey, Calamus, Camanche, Cambridge, Carbon, Carlisle, Carson, Casey, Castana, Cedar, Cedar Rapids, Centerville, Chariton, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Clarinda, Clearfield, Clinton, Clio, Clive, Coin, Colfax, College Springs, Collins, Columbia, Columbus City, Columbus Junction, Conesville, Coralville, Corning, Corydon, Council Bluffs, Crawfordsville, Crescent, Creston, Cromwell, Cumberland, Cumming, Dallas, Dallas Center, Davenport, Davis City, De Soto, De Witt, Decatur, Deep River, Delta, Derby, Des Moines, Dexter, Diagonal, Dixon, Donahue, Douds, Drakesville, Dunlap, Durant, Earlham, Earling, Eddyville, Eldon, Eldridge, Elkhart, Elliott, Ellston, Emerson, Essex, Exline, Fairfield, Farragut, Floris, Fontanelle, Fremont, Fruitland, Garden Grove, Gibson, Gilbert, Grand River, Grandview, Granger, Grant, Gravity, Greenfield, Grimes, Grinnell, Griswold, Guernsey, Hamburg, Hamilton, Hancock, Harlan, Harper, Hartford, Harvey, Hastings, Hayesville, Hedrick, Henderson, Hills, Homestead, Honey Creek, Humeston, Huxley, Imogene, Indianola, Iowa City, Ira, Jefferson, Johnston, Kalona, Kellerton, Kelley, Kellogg, Keosauqua, Keota, Keswick, Killduff, Kimballton, Kirkville, Knoxville, Lacona, Lamoni, Laurel, Le Claire, Leighton, Lenox, Leon, Letts, Lewis, Liberty Center, Libertyville, Lineville, Lockridge, Logan, Lone Tree, Long Grove, Lorimor, Lovilia, Low Moor, Lucas, Lynnville, Macedonia, Macksburg, Madrid, Magnolia, Malvern, Marne, Martensdale, Martinsburg, Massena, Maxwell, Mc Causland, Mc Clelland, Mediapolis, Melbourne, Melcher, Melrose, Menlo, Middle Amana, Millersburg, Millerton, Milo, Milton, Minden, Mineola, Mingo, Missouri Valley, Mitchellville, Modale, Mondamin, Monroe, Montezuma, Montpelier, Moorhead, Moravia, Morning Sun, Moscow, Moulton, Mount Ayr, Mount Pleasant, Mount Union, Murray, Muscatine, Mystic, Neola, Nevada, New Liberty, New London, New Market, New Sharon, New Virginia, Newton, Nichols, Nodaway, North English, North Liberty, Northboro, Norwalk, Oakland, Oakville, Olds, Ollie, Orient, Osceola, Oskaloosa, Otley, Ottumwa, Oxford, Pacific Junction, Packwood, Panama, Parnell, Patterson, Pella, Percival, Persia, Peru, Pisgah, Plano, Pleasant Valley, Pleasantville, Polk City, Portsmouth, Prairie City, Prescott, Princeton, Prole, Promise City, Pulaski, Randolph, Reasnor, Red Oak, Redding, Rhodes, Richland, Riverside, Riverton, Rome, Rose Hill, Runnells, Russell, Saint Charles, Saint Marys, Searsboro, Selma, Seymour, Shambaugh, Shannon City, Sharpsburg, Shelby, Sheldahl, Shenandoah, Sidney, Sigourney, Slater, Soldier, Solon, South English, Stanton, Stockton, Stuart, Sully, Swan, Swedesburg, Thayer, Thornburg, Thurman, Tiffin, Tingley, Tracy, Treynor, Truro, Udell, Underwood, Unionville, University Park, Urbandale, Van Meter, Van Wert, Villisca, Walcott, Wapello, Washington, Waukee, Wayland, Webster, Weldon, Wellman, Welton, West Branch, West Chester, West Des Moines, West Liberty, What Cheer, Williamsburg, Williamson, Wilton, Windsor Heights, Winfield, Winterset, Wiota, Woodbine, Woodburn, Yarmouth, Yorktown
5a	-20 to -15	Ackley, Akron, Albert City, Albion, Alburnett, Alden, Alexander, Algona, Allison, Alta, Alta Vista, Alton, Alvord, Anamosa, Andover, Andrew, Anthon, Aplington, Arcadia, Archer, Aredale, Armstrong, Arnolds Park, Arthur, Ashton, Aspinwall, Atkins, Atlantic, Auburn, Audubon, Aurelia, Aurora, Austinville, Ayrshire, Badger, Bagley, Baldwin, Bancroft, Barnum, Battle Creek, Bayard, Beaman, Beaver, Belle Plaine, Bellevue, Belmond, Bennett, Bernard, Blairsburg, Blairstown, Blencoe, Bode, Boone, Bouton, Boxholm, Boyden, Bradgate, Brandon, Brayton, Breda, Bristow, Britt, Bronson, Brooklyn, Brunsville, Bryant, Buckeye, Buckingham, Buffalo Center, Burnside, Burt, Callender, Calmar, Calumet, Carpenter, Carroll, Cascade, Castalia, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Center Junction, Center Point, Central City, Charles City, Charlotte, Charter Oak, Chelsea, Cherokee, Churdan, Clare, Clarence, Clarion, Clarksville, Clear Lake, Cleghorn, Clemons, Clermont, Climbing Hill, Clutier, Coggon, Colesburg, Colo, Colwell, Conrad, Conroy, Coon Rapids, Correctionville, Corwith, Coulter, Crystal Lake, Curlew, Cushing, Cylinder, Dakota City, Dana, Danbury, Dawson, Dayton, Decorah, Dedham, Defiance, Delhi, Delmar, Deloit, Denison, Denver, Dewar, Dickens, Dike, Dolliver, Doon, Dorchester, Dougherty, Dow City, Dows, Dubuque, Dumont, Duncombe, Dundee, Dunkerton, Durango, Dyersville, Dysart, Eagle Grove, Earlville, Early, Elberon, Eldora, Elgin, Elk Horn, Ellsworth, Ely, Emmetsburg, Epworth, Estherville, Evansdale, Everly, Exira, Fairbank, Fairfax, Farley, Farmersburg, Farnhamville, Fayette, Fenton, Ferguson, Fertile, Floyd, Fonda, Forest City, Fort Atkinson, Fort Dodge, Fostoria, Fredericksburg, Frederika, Galt, Galva, Garber, Garden City, Garnavillo, Garner, Garrison, Garwin, Geneva, George, Gilbertville, Gillett Grove, Gilman, Gilmore City, Gladbrook, Glidden, Goldfield, Goodell, Goose Lake, Gowrie, Graettinger, Grafton, Grand Junction, Grand Mound, Granville, Gray, Greene, Greenville, Grundy Center, Guthrie Center, Guttenberg, Halbur, Hamlin, Hampton, Hanlontown, Harcourt, Hardy, Harpers Ferry, Harris, Hartley, Hartwick, Havelock, Haverhill, Hawarden, Hawkeye, Hazleton, Hiawatha, Highlandville, Hinton, Holland, Holstein, Holy Cross, Hopkinton, Hornick, Hospers, Hubbard, Hudson, Hull, Humboldt, Ida Grove, Independence, Inwood, Ionia, Iowa Falls, Ireton, Irwin, Jamaica, Janesville, Jesup, Jewell, Joice, Jolley, Kamrar, Kanawha, Kensett, Keystone, Kingsley, Kirkman, Kiron, Klemme, Knierim, La Motte, La Porte City, Ladora, Lake City, Lake Mills, Lake Park, Lake View, Lakota, Lamont, Lanesboro, Langworthy, Lansing, Larchwood, Larrabee, Latimer, Laurens, Lawler, Lawton, Le Grand, Le Mars, Ledyard, Lehigh, Leland, Lester, Lidderdale, Lincoln, Linden, Linn Grove, Lisbon, Liscomb, Little Cedar, Little Rock, Little Sioux, Livermore, Lohrville, Lone Rock, Lost Nation, Lowden, Lu Verne, Luana, Luther, Luxemburg, Luzerne, Lytton, Malcom, Mallard, Manchester, Manilla, Manly, Manning, Manson, Mapleton, Maquoketa, Marathon, Marble Rock, Marcus, Marengo, Marion, Marquette, Marshalltown, Martelle, Mason City, Masonville, Matlock, Maurice, Maynard, Mc Callsburg, Mc Gregor, Mc Intire, Mechanicsville, Melvin, Meriden, Merrill, Meservey, Miles, Milford, Minburn, Monmouth, Monona, Monticello, Montour, Moorland, Morrison, Mount Auburn, Mount Vernon, Moville, Nashua, Nemaha, New Albin, New Hampton, New Hartford, New Providence, New Vienna, Newell, Newhall, Nora Springs, North Buena Vista, North Washington, Northwood, Norway, Ocheyedan, Odebolt, Oelwein, Ogden, Okoboji, Olin, Onawa, Onslow, Oran, Orange City, Orchard, Osage, Ossian, Otho, Oto, Ottosen, Oxford Junction, Palmer, Palo, Panora, Parkersburg, Paton, Paullina, Peosta, Perry, Peterson, Pierson, Pilot Mound, Plainfield, Plover, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Pomeroy, Popejoy, Postville, Prairieburg, Preston, Primghar, Quasqueton, Quimby, Radcliffe, Rake, Ralston, Randalia, Randall, Raymond, Readlyn, Redfield, Reinbeck, Rembrandt, Remsen, Renwick, Ricketts, Ringsted, Rippey, Robins, Rock Falls, Rock Rapids, Rock Valley, Rockford, Rockwell, Rockwell City, Rodney, Roland, Rolfe, Rowan, Rowley, Royal, Rudd, Ruthven, Rutland, Ryan, Sabula, Sac City, Saint Ansgar, Saint Anthony, Saint Donatus, Saint Lucas, Saint Olaf, Salix, Sanborn, Scarville, Schaller, Schleswig, Scranton, Sergeant Bluff, Sheffield, Sheldon, Shell Rock, Shellsburg, Sherrill, Sioux Center, Sioux City, Sioux Rapids, Sloan, Smithland, Somers, South Amana, Spencer, Spirit Lake, Spragueville, Springbrook, Springville, Stacyville, Stanhope, Stanley, Stanwood, State Center, Steamboat Rock, Storm Lake, Story City, Stout, Stratford, Sumner, Superior, Sutherland, Swaledale, Swea City, Swisher, Tama, Teeds Grove, Templeton, Terril, Thompson, Thor, Thornton, Tipton, Titonka, Toddville, Toledo, Traer, Tripoli, Troy Mills, Truesdale, Union, Urbana, Ute, Vail, Van Horne, Varina, Ventura, Victor, Vincent, Vining, Vinton, Wadena, Walford, Walker, Wall Lake, Wallingford, Walnut, Washta, Waterloo, Waterville, Watkins, Waucoma, Waukon, Waverly, Webb, Webster City, Wellsburg, Wesley, West Bend, West Union, Westfield, Westgate, Westside, Wheatland, Whiting, Whittemore, Whitten, Williams, Winthrop, Woden, Woodward, Woolstock, Worthington, Wyoming, Yale, Zearing, Zwingle
4b	-25 to -20	Arlington, Chester, Cresco, Delaware, Edgewood, Elkader, Elkport, Elma, Greeley, Lime Springs, Protivin, Riceville, Ridgeway, Sibley, Spillville, Strawberry Point, Volga
6a	-10 to -5	Argyle, Bonaparte, Burlington, Cantril, Carter Lake, Council Bluffs, Danville, Denmark, Donnellson, Farmington, Fort Madison, Glenwood, Hillsboro, Houghton, Keokuk, Middletown, Montrose, Mount Sterling, Pilot Grove, Saint Paul, Salem, Silver City, Sperry, Stockport, Tabor, West Burlington, West Point, Wever

5 best plants for Planting zones in Iowa?

1. Zone 4b: Peony (Paeonia)
2. Zone 5a: Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
3. Zone 5b: Daylily (Hemerocallis)
4. Zone 6a: Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

Refer to the map of planting zones for detailed locations and climate specifics.