Best Perennials for Landscaping in Iowa

If you're looking to create a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape in Iowa, perennials are your best friend. These hardy plants come back year after year, thriving through the state’s hot summers and freezing winters. The key is choosing varieties that can handle Iowa’s USDA zones (generally Zones 4, 5, and 6) and still offer color, texture, and interest from spring to fall.

Here are some of the best perennials to consider for your Iowa garden:

🌸 1. Coneflower (Echinacea)

Why we love it: Drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly, and long-blooming.

Bloom time: Mid-summer to fall.

Coneflowers are native to the Midwest, making them a perfect fit for Iowa. Available in purple, white, pink, and even orange, they add vibrant color and attract butterflies and bees.

🌿 2. Hosta

Why we love it: Great for shade, lush foliage, low maintenance.

Bloom time: Summer (flowers); Foliage from spring to frost.

If you have a shaded area, hostas are your go-to. Their wide leaves create texture and come in many shades of green, blue, and variegated patterns. While primarily grown for foliage, their delicate summer flowers add a nice touch.

🌼 3. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

Why we love it: Bold golden color, attracts pollinators, easy to grow.

Bloom time: Summer to early fallA cheerful, sunny addition to any Iowa garden, Black-Eyed Susans are incredibly hardy and spread easily. They’re also deer-resistant, which is a plus in rural or suburban areas.

❄️ 4. Daylily (Hemerocallis)

Why we love it: Extremely resilient, available in many colors, long-lived.

Bloom time: Late spring through summer.

Daylilies are practically bulletproof in Iowa’s climate. While each bloom only lasts a day, the plant produces many flowers over an extended season.

🌷 5. Peony

Why we love it: Classic, fragrant, long-lasting.

Bloom time: Late spring.

A staple in Midwestern gardens, peonies are beautiful, long-lived perennials that often get better with age. Just make sure to plant them in a sunny spot with good drainage.

🌾 6. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

Why we love it: Native ornamental grass, adds winter interest.

Bloom time: Summer; seed heads persist into winter.

For texture and movement, switchgrass is a native ornamental that can survive drought, heavy rain, and harsh winters. It also provides habitat for birds and wildlife.

🌼 7. Sedum (Stonecrop)

Why we love it: Great for dry areas, succulent-like leaves, pollinator magnet.

Bloom time: Late summer to fall. Sedum is ideal for low-maintenance gardens. ‘Autumn Joy’ is one of the most popular varieties, offering pink-to-rust-colored blooms that carry into fall.

Tips for Planting Perennials in Iowa

• Plan for year-round interest: Mix early, mid-, and late-season bloomers.

• Prepare the soil: Iowa soil can be clay-heavy, so amend with compost for drainage.

• Mulch well: Helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

• Divide every few years: Keep plants healthy and control spread.

Final Thoughts With the right mix of perennials, your Iowa landscape can be vibrant, welcoming, and low-maintenance year after year. From cheerful coneflowers to lush hostas, these tried-and-true plants will keep your garden thriving through every season Iowa throws your way.

Happy planting!