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MAY 1, 2026
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The Plant Guide Online

Growing zones & plants for every town in America

Best Plants For Des Moines, IA

A variety of plants are suitable for Des Moines's climate. According to our data, the growing zone for the area is 5b, with average annual lows of -15 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit. Scroll down for a full list of the best plants for Des Moines, IA based on our analysis of the region's climate.

If growing food is your aim, vegetables hardy to Des Moines include beets, broccoli and brussels sprouts, while fruits like apples, apricots and blackberries will flourish.

For flower beds, go with choices like asters, black-eyed susans (rudbeckia) and bleeding heart (dicentra spectabilis) for the best results.

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โ˜…

Trees for Des Moines

20 on file
  • American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)Tree
  • American Elm (Ulmus Americana)Tree
  • American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)Tree
  • Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)Tree
  • Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)Tree
  • Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)Tree
  • Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)Tree
  • Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)Tree
  • Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)Tree
  • Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)Tree
  • Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)Tree
  • Norway Spruce (Picea abies)Tree
  • Red Maple (Acer rubrum)Tree
  • Red Oak (Quercus rubra)Tree
  • Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)Tree
  • Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)Tree
  • White Ash (Fraxinus americana)Tree
  • White Birch (Betula papyrifera)Tree
  • White Oak (Quercus alba)Tree
  • White Pine (Pinus strobus)Tree
โ˜…

Fruits for Des Moines

20 on file
  • ApplesFruit
  • ApricotsFruit
  • BlackberriesFruit
  • BlueberriesFruit
  • CherriesFruit
  • Concord grapesFruit
  • CurrantsFruit
  • ElderberriesFruit
  • FigsFruit
  • GooseberriesFruit
  • Hardy kiwiFruit
  • HoneyberriesFruit
  • Mulberries.Fruit
  • PeachesFruit
  • PearsFruit
  • PlumsFruit
  • QuinceFruit
  • RaspberriesFruit
  • RhubarbFruit
  • StrawberriesFruit

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โ˜…

Flowers for Des Moines

20 on file
  • AstersFlower
  • Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)Flower
  • Bleeding Heart (Dicentra Spectabilis)Flower
  • Coneflowers (Echinacea)Flower
  • Daylilies (Hemerocallis)Flower
  • ForsythiaFlower
  • Hardy GeraniumsFlower
  • HostasFlower
  • HydrangeasFlower
  • IrisFlower
  • Lilacs (Syringa)Flower
  • Marigolds (Tagetes)Flower
  • Peonies (Paeonia)Flower
  • PetuniasFlower
  • RhododendronsFlower
  • Roses (Rosa)Flower
  • Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum superbum)Flower
  • Sunflowers (Helianthus)Flower
  • Tulips (Tulipa)Flower
  • ZinniasFlower
โ˜…

Vegetables for Des Moines

20 on file
  • BeetsVegetable
  • BroccoliVegetable
  • Brussels SproutsVegetable
  • CabbageVegetable
  • CarrotsVegetable
  • CauliflowerVegetable
  • CucumbersVegetable
  • KaleVegetable
  • LeeksVegetable
  • LettuceVegetable
  • OnionsVegetable
  • PeasVegetable
  • PumpkinsVegetable
  • RadishesVegetable
  • SpinachVegetable
  • SquashVegetable
  • Swiss ChardVegetable
  • TomatoesVegetable
  • TurnipsVegetable
  • ZucchiniVegetable

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Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about plants for your area? Check out our FAQ below for quick answers to common questions about what plants grow best in the Des Moines, IA climate.

โ„– 01What vegetables grow well in Des Moines?+

Some of the best vegetables for Des Moines, IA include beets, broccoli and brussels sprouts. Other recommended vegetables include Cabbage, Carrots and Cauliflower based on Des Moines's USDA hardiness zone.

โ„– 02What fruits grow well in Des Moines?+

Some of the best fruits for Des Moines, IA include apples, apricots and blackberries. Other recommended fruits include Blueberries, Cherries and Concord grapes based on Des Moines's USDA hardiness zone.

โ„– 03What flowers grow well in Des Moines?+

Some of the best flowers for Des Moines, IA include asters, black-eyed susans (rudbeckia) and bleeding heart (dicentra spectabilis). Other recommended flowers include Coneflowers (Echinacea), Daylilies (Hemerocallis) and Forsythia based on Des Moines's USDA hardiness zone.

โ„– 04What trees grow well in Des Moines?+

Some of the best trees for Des Moines, IA include american beech (fagus grandifolia), american elm (ulmus americana) and american sycamore (platanus occidentalis). Other recommended trees include Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) and Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) based on Des Moines's USDA hardiness zone.

โ„– 05What shrubs grow well in Des Moines?+

We're still building our shrubs database for Des Moines, IA. Browse all shrubs or search by postal code to find more plants.

Map of IA Hardiness Zones

โ€” Plate โ€”IA ยท USDA hardiness
plants by zone map for Des Moines, IA
Choose plants with your zone in mind

Choosing plants based on the Des Moines hardiness zone ensures that your plants will be able to survive the lowest annual temperatures in your area of Iowa.

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Best Time to Plant in Des Moines

Check the growing calendar for Des Moines at the Old Farmer's Almanac to see the best planting times for the region.

Need Gardening Gear?

PlantGuideOnline.com has selected some of our favorite products to help you with your next growing project. From seed starting trays and fertilizers to decor and lifestyle items, we think you'll love what we've selected.

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Des Moines's Temperature

USDA Growing Zone: 5b

Longitude: -93.6105

Latitude: 41.5725

Lowest Avg Temperatures (F): -15 to -10

The USDA growing zone is 5b in Des Moines, IA. This is a measure of the lowest temperature that a plant can survive, helping to decide what plants would be suitable for the region's climate. According to our records, the average annual extreme minimum temperature in Des Moines is -15 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit. If you would like to learn more, visit our page on the USDA plant hardiness zone for Des Moines.

Do you know your zip code? Use the zip code links listed above to find planting recommendations tailored to your exact neighborhood within Des Moines, IA.

Map of Des Moines

โ€” Map โ€”Lat 41.5725, Lon -93.6105
Tile data ยฉ Google Maps

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All Towns In IA

Tools You'll Love

PlantGuideOnline.com has selected some of our favorite products to help you with your next growing project. From seed starting trays and fertilizers to decor and lifestyle items, we think you'll love what we've selected.

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Plants For Other States

Looking for the best plants in a different area of the United States? Click on a button below to find plants that are ideal for that state's temperatures.

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