Zip code 50309 is in USDA hardiness zone 5b, which means plants there can survive temperatures as low as -15 to -10°F each year.

50309 is in zone 5b. Hardiness zones and growing zones are the same thing, and the terms are used interchangeably.

Use zone 5b when selecting plants for 50309. Plants rated for other zones may not survive 50309's winter temperatures. Always check plant tags and labels for zone recommendations.

While you can try plants from other zones in 50309, they may need winter protection or indoor shelter during cold spells. Focus on plants recommended for Des Moines's climate for the best results.

For detailed growing zone information, visit our page on the growing zone for Des Moines.

Absolutely. We offer plant recommendations for every town in the United States. We have a page on the best plants for Des Moines that you might be interested in.

Recommended vegetables for 50309 include Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Onions, Peas, Pumpkins, Radishes, Spinach, Squash, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Turnips and Zucchini.

The best fruits for 50309 include Apples, Apricots, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cherries, Concord grapes, Currants, Elderberries, Figs, Gooseberries, Hardy kiwi, Honeyberries, Mulberries., Peaches, Pears, Plums, Quince, Raspberries, Rhubarb and Strawberries.

For 50309 we recommend flowers like Asters, Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia), Bleeding Heart (Dicentra Spectabilis), Coneflowers (Echinacea), Daylilies (Hemerocallis), Forsythia, Hardy Geraniums, Hostas, Hydrangeas, Iris, Lilacs (Syringa), Marigolds (Tagetes), Peonies (Paeonia), Petunias, Rhododendrons, Roses (Rosa), Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum superbum), Sunflowers (Helianthus), Tulips (Tulipa) and Zinnias.

Trees for 50309's temperatures include American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), American Elm (Ulmus Americana), American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Blue Spruce (Picea pungens), Cottonwood (Populus deltoides), Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis), Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Norway Spruce (Picea abies), Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum), Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), White Ash (Fraxinus americana), White Birch (Betula papyrifera), White Oak (Quercus alba) and White Pine (Pinus strobus).

We're still building our shrubs database for 50309. Our data is updated regularly with the latest USDA data, so check back often.