Best Plants For Essex, IA

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

If growing food is your aim, vegetables hardy to Essex 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.

Stainless Steel Garden Tool Set

Complete garden tool set with heavy-duty stainless steel tools for all your gardening needs.

Shiitake Mushroom Kit

Grow your own delicious shiitake mushrooms at home.

Trees for Essex

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)

White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Fruits for Essex

Apples

Apricots

Blackberries

Blueberries

Cherries

Concord grapes

Currants

Elderberries

Figs

Gooseberries

Hardy kiwi

Honeyberries

Mulberries.

Peaches

Pears

Plums

Quince

Raspberries

Rhubarb

Strawberries

Reusable Grow Bags

Breathable fabric grow bags that promote healthy root growth for your vegetables and fruits.

Steel Hori Hori Weeding Knife

Versatile Japanese-style gardening knife for weeding and planting.

Flowers for Essex

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)

Zinnias

Vegetables for Essex

Beets

Broccoli

Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage

Carrots

Cauliflower

Cucumbers

Kale

Leeks

Lettuce

Onions

Peas

Pumpkins

Radishes

Spinach

Squash

Swiss Chard

Tomatoes

Turnips

Zucchini

Map of IA Hardiness Zones

Choose plants with your zone in mind

Choosing plants based on the growing zone for Essex ensures that your plants will be able to survive the lowest annual temperatures in your area of Iowa.

Rustic Iron Garden Trellis

Sturdy trellis for supporting climbing plants and vines.

Brass Decorative Faucet Handle

Elegant brass handle to enhance your garden faucet.

Hydroponic Garden Grow Kit

Grow fresh herbs and vegetables year-round with this indoor hydroponic garden system.

Small Greenhouse Kit

Compact greenhouse perfect for small spaces.

Worm Composting Kit

Complete kit for starting your own worm composting system.

Best Time to Plant in Essex

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

Need Gardening Gear?

The Plant Guide Online 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.

Steel Hori Hori Weeding Knife

Versatile Japanese-style gardening knife for weeding and planting.

Metal Seed Storage Box

Organized storage solution for your seed collection.

Brass Watering Can

Elegant brass watering can with classic design and durability.

Shiitake Mushroom Kit

Grow your own delicious shiitake mushrooms at home.

Hoeing Ain't Easy Garden Sign

Fun and decorative garden sign to add personality to your space.

Raised vegetable bed rows in zone 8a

Essex's Temperature

USDA Growing Zone: 5b

Zip Codes: 51638

Longitude: -95.3038

Latitude: 40.8327

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

The USDA growing zone is 5b in Essex, 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 Essex is -15 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit. If you would like to learn more, visit our page on the growing zone for Essex, IA.

Map of Essex

Fiskars Garden Harvest Basket

Sturdy basket for collecting and carrying your garden harvest.

Deluxe Plastic Watering Can

High-capacity watering can with comfortable grip and precise spout.

Raised Garden Bed Kit

Easy-to-assemble raised garden bed for better soil control and drainage.

Steel Hori Hori Weeding Knife

Versatile Japanese-style gardening knife for weeding and planting.

Worm Composting Kit

Complete kit for starting your own worm composting system.

All Towns In IA

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

Tools You'll Love

Fiskars Garden Harvest Basket

Sturdy basket for collecting and carrying your garden harvest.

Raised Garden Bed Kit

Easy-to-assemble raised garden bed for better soil control and drainage.

Self Watering Plant Pots

Innovative pots that maintain optimal moisture levels.

Metal Arbor Trellis

Decorative arbor trellis for climbing plants and garden entrance.

Deluxe Plastic Watering Can

High-capacity watering can with comfortable grip and precise spout.

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.

Metal Arbor Trellis

Decorative arbor trellis for climbing plants and garden entrance.

Wooden Chicken Coop

Spacious and secure home for your backyard chickens.

Worm Composting Kit

Complete kit for starting your own worm composting system.

Deluxe Plastic Watering Can

High-capacity watering can with comfortable grip and precise spout.

Metal Seed Storage Box

Organized storage solution for your seed collection.

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