Adding yellow flowers to your garden can brighten up just about any garden space. Part of the thrill of gardening is experimenting with different types of flowers, and bloom colors to create the atmosphere that you want.
Because there are so many different flower types, it can be difficult to narrow down exactly which flowers will give you the look and feel that you are after. That’s why it’s helpful to narrow down some of your options by looking at a gigantic list like this one, that has names, pictures, and the growing zones of some of the most popular yellow blooms!
So, if you are looking to add a burst of yellow color to your garden, you’ve come to the right place. From perennial flowers to annuals, we take a deeper look at the most popular types of yellow flowers that you can consider adding to your home or garden space this season!
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Bear’s Ear
Primula auricula is an evergreen perennial that differs in short, rather thick, spatulate grayish as if dusty leaves.
Scientific Name: Primula auricula
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: Central EuropePlant Size: 6 – 8 inches tallSun Exposure: Partial sun or full shadePlant Zone: 3 – 8
The bear-like ear-shaped leaves are where the beautiful Bear’s Ear gets its name. It’s common to find this plant growing between rocks on mountain slopes in central Europe.
Bright yellow flowers bloom on the Bear’s Ear in clusters at the top of 2 – 8-inch long stalks. Each flower has five petals that attach to a little button center of the same bright yellow color. A basal rosette of leaves frames the flowers.
Begonia
Begonia obliqua belongs to the most famous and numerous genus of the family Begoniaceae.
Scientific Name: Begonia obliqua
Plant Type: Annual or perennial, depending on the temperatureGeographic Origin: BrazilPlant Size: 8 – 14 inches tallSun Exposure: Partial or full sunPlant Zone: 9 – 11
Begonias are tuberous plants that grow into bushy mounds during the spring and summer. They’re fast-spreading, so take care where you plant them, especially if you live in a warm climate where they act as a perennial.
Many Begonia flower colors exist, so make sure you opt for the yellow variety. You’ll then get to enjoy beautiful drooping clusters of flowers between July and the early fall. Some people use Begonia flowers for cooking, as they have a citrus taste.
Bidens
Bidens – flowers are star-shaped, medium-sized, their color is bright yellow with a nice smell.
Scientific Name: Bidens
Plant Type: Annual or perennial, if the temperature remains above 40 degrees FahrenheitGeographic Origin: Oceanic regionPlant Size: 6 – 12 inches tallSun Exposure: Full or partial sunPlant Zone: 8 – 11
Bidens have daisy-like flowers that are deep yellow in color. Their centers are orange, offering a beautiful contrast while maintaining a fully yellow-flower appearance. Gardeners love Bidens because their foliage remains green year-round in warmer climates.
Provided you offer Bidens soil with lots of nutrients that drain well, you can expect them to produce many blooms during the summer. Furthermore, it isn’t necessary to deadhead this plant, for it will continue to flower.
Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia, commonly known as the bird of paradise is one of the most popular tropical flowers.
Scientific Name: Strelitzia
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: AfricaPlant Size: 3 – 4 feet tallSun Exposure: Partial or full sunPlant Zone: 10 – 12
The Bird of Paradise is a classic plant people think of when they picture tropical climates. Its ornate yellowish orange flowers emerge from a thick green petiole. In addition to its two pointed petals, it has five stamens and a boat-shaped flower bract.
Rich, well-draining soil is crucial for the Bird of Paradise. Furthermore, the more sun it has access to, the more it’ll flower.
Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia is a plant genus in the Asteraceae, which has effective large flowers, similar to flashes of flame.
Scientific Name: Rudbeckia
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: Central United StatesPlant Size: 2 – 3 feet tallSun Exposure: Full sunPlant Zone: 3 – 7
Black-Eyed Susans are the perfect example of a wildflower that people welcome into their gardens. They have a sturdy stalk to support their large yellow flowers, each of which contains a dark brown cone in their center.
Black-Eyed Susans grow with their radially symmetrical petals turned slightly downward. As a result, their cones protrude for pollinators and human admirers of this beautiful plant. To top it all off, the Black-Eyed Susan has handsome deep green leaves.
Blanket Flower
Gaillardia x Grandiflora, widely known as blanket flower, is a genus of flowering plants in the sunflower family Asteraceae.
Scientific Name: Gaillardia x Grandiflora
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: North AmericaPlant Size: 24 – 36 inches tallSun Exposure: Full sunPlant Zone: 3 – 10
Blanket Flowers are an excellent plant to introduce to your yard if you want two-toned yellow flowers. These plants have a deep reddish-brown color at their centers, which spreads out and transitions to yellow. By deadheading this plant, you’ll get to enjoy blooms from June until the first frost.
The Blanket Flower leaves are fuzzy, slender, and light green. These plants hold up well in rocky soil with little moisture. It’s common to encounter them growing in prairies and dry meadows. This sun-loving perennial flower is a great addition for sunny garden areas.
Bulbine
Bulbine frutescens is a very drought tolerant plant.
Scientific Name: Bulbine frutescens
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: South AfricaPlant Size: 1 – 1.5 feetSun Exposure: Full sunPlant Zone: 9 – 11
Are you looking for a yellow flowering ground cover? If so, and you live in a dry climate free of frost, the Bulbine plant is a great fit. The clumping nature of Bulbine allows each plant to spread four feet wide without the rapidly growing characteristic that makes some plants a nuisance.
Bulbines come in yellow and orange flowers that bloom multiple times per year. It’s crucial to plant them in a shady spot, though. Otherwise, you might not see their yellow flowers at all.
Bulbous Buttercup
Ranunculus bulbosus is a perennial herb with a corm-like stem-base in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae.
Scientific Name: Ranunculus bulbosus
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: EuropePlant Size: 1 – 2 feet tallSun Exposure: Partial or full sunPlant Zone: 4 – 8
Many people recognize the buttery color of buttercups, which often grow in fields ranging from nutrient-rich to chalky with limestone. They’re a springtime flower, producing their upward turned flowers from March to May.
Ranunculus bulbosus get their name from the bulb knot at the base of their stems and flowers. However, you may not notice it unless you pull pack the sepals that cover it.
Busy Lizzie
Impatiens walleriana is a flowering herbaceous plant up to 2 feet tall, originally from central East Africa.
Scientific Name: Impatiens walleriana
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: East AfricaPlant Size: 2 feet tallSun Exposure: Partial to full sunPlant Zone: 10a – 11
Busy Lizzies are a variety of impatiens, and can be an attractive addition to gardens, as they have deep green to red leaves that grow five inches long. A fine, light green or red stem emerges from these leaves, where gorgeous flowers with flat petals sit atop them.
You’ll need to take care when picking out Busy Lizzies from a garden store, given that they range in color from yellow to violet. In addition to yellow, they come in several shades of orange. So, you can mix and match if you’ve been waffling between getting a plant with orange or yellow flowers.
Calendula
Calendula officinalis is a short-lived perennial with yellow or orange flowers.
Scientific Name: Calendula officinalis
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: Southern EuropePlant Size: 1 – 2 feet tallSun Exposure: Full sun or partial shadePlant Zone: 9 – 11
If you don’t recognize the name Calendula, you might recognize this—Marigolds. Calendula is the potted version of a Marigold, given that there are up to 20 species within the Calendula family.
Calendulas have showy, pom-pom-like flowers in bright to deep yellow colors. You can even pick the flowers and use them in salads. Furthermore, Calendula has several medicinal properties, and it’s common to find it in herbal and cosmetic products.
Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa is an incredibly ornamental, flowering, herbaceous shrub.
Scientific Name: Calibrachoa
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: South AmericaPlant Size: 6 – 12 inches tallSun Exposure: Full sun or partial shadePlant Zone: 9 – 11
Calibrachoa is a relatively new species and produces yellow flowers in addition to several other flower colors, including red and violet. Gardeners lovingly call it a “million bells” since the flowers appear like upside-down bells.
Because of its trailing nature, Calibrachoa is ideal for hanging baskets. You can also use it as ground cover. Best of all, you’ll be able to enjoy the Calibrachoa’s flowers from spring until the first frost.
Canna Lily
Canna – easy-to-grow tropical and sub-tropical plants.
Scientific Name: Canna
Plant Type: AnnualGeographic Origin: CaribbeanPlant Size: 1.5 – 10 feet tallSun Exposure: Full sunPlant Zone: 8 – 11
If you’re looking for a tall, eye-catching yellow flower plant, look no further than the Canna Lily. They are easy to grow, and they produce massive yellow flowers atop thick stalks with wide green leaves.
People in cooler regions enjoy growing Canna Lilies because of the tropical flair they bring to their gardens. Canna Lilies prefer moist soil znc they can even grow in bogs. It’s crucial you provide this plant with plenty of organic matter and ensure the soil pH is neutral to slightly acidic.
Carolina Yellow Jasmine
Gelsemium sempervirens is a plant of the Gelsemiaceae family, native to subtropical and tropical America.
Scientific Name: Gelsemium sempervirens
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: Southern United StatesPlant Size: 12 – 36 feet tallSun Exposure: Full sunPlant Zone: 7 – 10
Here’s a fun fact: The Carolina Yellow Jasmine is South Carolina’s state flower. It produces attractive tiny yellow flowers that grow from its vine. You can expect these flowers to bloom before many other plants, as the flowers often last from February to May.
Carolina Yellow Jasmines are an excellent fit for slightly salty soil. If you don’t offer them a trellis to grow up, they’ll create bushy growth, which can serve as attractive ground cover.
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums sometimes called mums or chrysanths, is easy to grow with their basic needs.
Scientific Name: Chrysanthemum
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: Asia and EuropePlant Size: 4 – 36 inches tallSun Exposure: Full sunPlant Zone: 5 – 9
Chrysanthemums are in the same family as the sunflower and daisy, meaning that you’ll get to enjoy a garden full of large, showy flowers. What makes these flowers so elegant is their dozens of thin petals that pack tightly together to form the flower.
The Chrysanthemum is an aromatic flower, making it a joy to walk past. Furthermore, while you can purchase this plant in a deep yellow color, they also come in white with light yellow centers, making them a beautiful accent with the pure yellow plants.
Coneflower
Coneflowers are herbaceous, drought-tolerant perennial plants, used as a popular herbal remedy.
Scientific Name: Echinacea
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: North AmericaPlant Size: 2 – 5 feet tallSun Exposure: Full or partial sunPlant Zone: 3 – 8
The yellow coneflower is easy to mistake for Black-Eyed Susans because they have similar yellow petals that emerge from a protruding deep brown center. It has a long taproot which allows it to withstand droughts.
Coneflower is a part of the Echinacea family, which people use to boost their immune system when they have a cold or flu. Many people believe that it can also help lessen the severity of a sore throat, fever, and cough.
Coreopsis
Coreopsis is a herbaceous plant from the Asteraceae family, common in the temperate climates of the Americas.
Scientific Name: Coreopsis
Plant Type: Perennial or annual, depending on the temperatureGeographic Origin: North AmericaPlant Size: 2 – 4 feet tallSun Exposure: Full sunPlant Zone: 2 – 11
Coreopsis is a joy to plant because the massive number of flowers it produces attracts an array of butterflies. While this plant comes in many colors, the yellow variety has light yellow leaves and a dark orange center. You can expect to enjoy these flowers starting in the early summer.
The Coreopsis plant thrives in well-draining soil with lots of nutrients. However, it can withstand dry climates and poorer soil conditions. We encourage you to deadhead these plants for more blooms throughout the growing season.
Corydalis
Corydalis has yellow-brown flowers, and flowering occurs at the beginning of May.
Scientific Name: Corydalis canadensis
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: Northern hemispherePlant Size: 12 – 18 inchesSun Exposure: Shade or partial sunPlant Zone: 5 – 7
There are many varieties of Corydalis plants, and the yellow version will add charm to your garden. However, if you’d rather not opt for a strictly yellow color, consider purchasing the pink variety with yellow tips on its petals.
The Corydalis belongs to the poppy family and is a favorite ornamental plant among garden enthusiasts. In the East, some people use the Corydalis tubers to treat high blood pressure and pain, although studies are ongoing about its effectiveness.
Craspedia
Craspedia globosa is a tall shrub that blooms with yellow spherical buds.
Scientific Name: Craspedia globosa
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: New Zealand and Australia Plant Size: 4 – 24 inchesSun Exposure: Full sun or partial shadePlant Zone: 8 – 11
Craspedia plants are a fantastic way to give your garden a unique flair, given that they’re lengthy plants with dense yellow flowers that form a ball at the top of their thin stems. In fact, many people refer to this plant as “golden drumsticks.”
The Craspedia is an excellent plant for drying, allowing you to have yellow flowers in your house year-round. However, you should expect the yellow color to dull with time.
Daffodil
Narcissus is one of the most valuable spring ornamental plants.
Scientific Name: Narcissus
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: Europe, North AmericaPlant Size: 6 – 30 inches tallSun Exposure: Full or partial sunPlant Zone: 4 – 8
Daffodils are an iconic bulb plant that offers character to gardens thanks to their large, glossy, upturned leaves and trumpet-like flowers. Because daffodils are in high demand, many color variations exist. So, you can either choose a solid yellow flower or yellow with another color.
The Daffodil’s leaves are so long that they usually fall just a few inches short of the flower’s height. Take care when planting daffodils in partial shade—if they have too much shade, they won’t bloom.
Dahlia
Dahlia is a genus of perennial herbaceous plants of the family Asteraceae with large, brightly colored flowers.
Scientific Name: Dahlia
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: Central America, MexicoPlant Size: 1 – 6 feet tallSun Exposure: Full sunPlant Zone: 8 – 10
Dahlias share the same family as daisies and sunflowers. You can see both resemblances in their flowers; the tight yellow center resembles a daisy, and the layers of (tiny) petals have a sunflower-like look.
During the time of the Aztecs, people used to eat the tubers of Dahlias. After the Spanish conquest, the trend never caught on in Europe, so people now enjoy these flowers for their colors. Dahlias grow best in well-watered soil that drains well.
Daisy
The flowering period of Bellis perennis is extended – begins in early spring and ends in autumn.
Scientific Name: Bellis perennis
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: EuropePlant Size: 6 – 12 inchesSun Exposure: Partial sunPlant Zone: 4 – 8
Daisies are a fun yellow flower to grow because you can mix and match how much yellow you want to add to your garden. Most people think of the classic Daisy with a bright yellow center and white petals. However, you can also buy Daisies with yellow petals and brown or yellow centers.
Most Daisies don’t require significant soil treatment, given that they can grow in average to sandy soil. However, it’s crucial to ensure these plants get enough water. Otherwise, they’ll become brittle, and their flowers will drop.
Daylily
Daylilies has beautiful, large, funnel-shaped flowers.
Scientific Name: Hemerocallis
Plant Type: PerennialGeographic Origin: Asia, Central EuropePlant Size: 8 inches – 5 feet tallSun Exposure: Full or partial sunPlant Zone: 3 – 10
Daylilies produce show-quality flowers from early to mid-summer. The flowers can grow up to over eight inches in diameter and often include a variety of yellow shades, including yellow and orange-streaked flowers.
The downside to daylilies is that their flowers last for one day before dropping. However, they continually produce flowers for three to four weeks, meaning that you’ll be able to enjoy their flowers for the duration of that time.
Dutch Hyacinth
Hyacinthus orientalis – one of the first garden flowers to bloom.