30 Cheerful Shrubs and Trees with Yellow Flowers

Landscaping your backyard with shrubs and trees with yellow flowers can boost your property’s aesthetic value. Low-maintenance varieties are a nice investment, and they give you years of enjoyment. No matter if you want to increase your privacy, boost the shade cover, or cover an eyesore, you can find the best shrubs or trees with yellow flowers to help you achieve this goal. 

You can coordinate your choices with seasonal blooms to get color from spring until well into the fall months. Shrubs and trees with yellow blooms are a great choice because this is a very bright and light color that can contrast sharply to a green background. We’ve picked out several shrubs and trees with yellow flowers for you to consider below. 

1. Austrian Briar (Rosa foetida)

The Rose Foetida or Austrian Briar will bloom with deep golden flowers in the early summer months. This is a very vibrant tree with yellow flowers that draws in birds, butterflies, and bees. To keep it healthy, you want to put it in direct sunlight for at least eight hours a day. We suggest that you pick out the sunniest area in your yard to ensure it produces brilliant flowers. 

This shrub loves moist soil, but you don’t want it so wet that it’s soggy. Having a soil that drains very well can be helpful to avoid root rot and overwatering. You want to fertilize this plant every few years to ensure that it stays healthy. An all-purpose fertilizer will give your shrub the nutrient boost it needs to thrive, but you should test the garden’s soil to determine what your levels currently are. 

2. Azalea (Rhododendron)

There are dozens of azaleas or rhododendrons, and you can find both deciduous and evergreen plants with yellow flowers. Taller cultivars can get over 20 feet high at full maturity, but it’s more common for them to get between four and six feet. You’ll get bright blooms that pop between the dark green foliage, and the flowers can be yellow, pink, white, purple, or orange. 

For the best results with this plant, put it in an area that gets full shade to partial sun in moist, permeable soil with a pH range of 4.5 and 6. It grows nicely in zones four to six, and you’ll want to prune them right after they flower. You can find early, mid, and late season flowering plants to keep your landscape bright in spring, summer, and right into the autumn months.

3. Brazilian Plume Flower Shrub (Justicia carnea)

Instead of a tree with yellow flowers, this is an evergreen shrub that has pretty bright yellow tubular flowers with dark green leaves. This plant blooms at the beginning of the summer months and keeps on until the fall months. Due to the flower shape, both butterflies and hummingbirds flock to the flowers. To grow a healthy plant, you’ll want to put it in a space that has well-drained soil in a fully shaded or partially shaded area. Fertilize the shrub in the early spring months, again in mid-summer, and at the beginning of autumn to encourage it to grow and flower. 

4. Bush Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa)

This pretty shrub will produce bright yellow flowers from the summer months into the fall. It will get roughly one to three feet tall. If you live in a colder climate, this plant will survive in areas that are down to -50 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, this tree with yellow flowers has a strong insect and disease resistance, and this makes it easy to care for. 

This plant needs full sun or partial shade to grow and produce the yellow blooms. Partial shade during the hotter days will let your plant bloom longer. It does very well when you have it in a space with well-drained, moist soil. However, you can also grow it in rocky, alkaline, dry, or clay-based soil. 

5. Chinese Flame Tree (Koelreuteria bipinnata)

This low-maintenance tree with yellow flowers will produce very fragrant flowers that start out yellow and slowly turn orange and red to look like Chinese lanterns. This tree is a wonderful shade tree in any garden, and you can put plants that prefer to grow in shade conditions below it. 

If you plant this tree with yellow flowers in an area that doesn’t get enough sun, it can start to look slightly odd. They can tolerate different soil types, but they do best in well-drained soil. You’ll want to water it moderately and regularly until it establishes itself for the first two to three years. 

6. Forsythia (Genus Forsythia)

This early spring tree with yellow flowers is also called golden bell. It’s a deciduous shrub that is native to eastern Europe and East Asia. It’s a very low-maintenance option that grows quickly, and this makes it a wonderful addition to any garden. This shrub has bright yellow flowers that will bloom very early in the spring to provide welcome color. 

You want your plant to get a minimum of six hours of light every day for it to thrive. It can do decently with slightly less light, but it won’t flower as well. These shrubs also need soil that drains very well, and wet soil can stunt their growth. 

7. Golden Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

This very common type of bush is a Japanese Barberry cultivar that offers pretty yellow foliage all year-round. As the summer slowly fades into fall, the leaves will turn a stunning reddish-orange huge before dropping the leaves in the winter. Until this plant establishes itself, you’ll want to water it regularly. It’s not necessary to fertilize this plant, and it will adapt nicely to any type of soil. It does need plenty of sunshine to thrive though, or it’ll turn a lime color instead of the pretty bright yellow. 

8. Golden Jackpot (Weigela rosea)

This Florida shrub is also called Weeping Weigela, and the shrubs are very easy to maintain. It offers bright yellow flowers with a five-petal star design that pop out during the summer months. They will get up to six feet tall and make a stunning hedge plant. You can grow it in an area that gets a minimum of four hours of light every day. It will adapt nicely to various soil types, and it works well in a well-drained soil. You will need to water it regularly during the first growing season, and boost your watering sessions when the extreme heat comes on. 

9. Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula)

This tree with yellow flowers is stunning when it’s in full bloom, and it offers one-foot long, cascading, yellow flower clusters that come out in the early spring months. When this tree with yellow flowers is full grown, it can get up to 40 feet tall. It produces legume-like, dark brown seed pods that follow the flowers and hang on the tree until winter. 

For the best results, you should put this plant in full sun in a permeable soil. It grows best when you plant it in zones 10 to 11. You must prune the young trees and stake them once in a while to promote upward growth. If you don’t, the branches will grow asymmetrically, and the seeds are toxic. 

10. Golden Trumpet (Allamanda cathartica)

The Golden Trumpet tree with yellow flowers can get between 25 and 50 feet tall and offer a rounded canopy. It’s a semi-deciduous and semi-evergreen tree that is native to Brazil, and it’s easy to confuse it with the Tabebuia ochracea since they’re virtually identical. 

You want to avoid overeating this tree with yellow flowers to allow them to grow and bloom the yellow flowers as large as they can. They like to be in sunny areas, and the soil should be fertile. Fertilize this tree in the spring and summer every few weeks or so to ensure that it has all of the nutrients it needs to do well. As winter comes around, you can stop fertilizing the tree. 

11. Japanese Rose (Kerria japonica)

The Japanese Rose is a deciduous shrub that offers five-petaled, bright yellow flowers and pretty green foliage that turns a soft yellow shade in the fall. Not only are the bright flowers eye-catching and cheerful, but the branches can easily create visual interest in your yard. However, if you choose to grow this plant in Southeastern and Eastern states, be aware that it is invasive. 

Even though this tree with yellow flowers requires regular watering sessions, you want to avoid watering it too much. It can tolerate a bit of drought, but it doesn’t do well when you plant it in soggy soil. If you prune this plant, it’ll boost how much it blooms in the next spring season. 

12. Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa)

This tree with yellow flowers can also produce white flowers during the spring months. During the fall months, the foliage will turn to a purplish-red coloring. The dogwood will grow wide and tall, and they usually form a rounded canopy. This particular cultivar is more disease and insect-resistant than other dogwoods. 

This plant does well in areas that either offer full sun or are partially shaded. You will need to plant this tree with yellow flowers in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. Established trees are resistant to drought, so you’ll only have to water them once a week during very dry and hot periods. Give them a good watering session once every week to encourage optimal growth. 

13. Honey Perfume Rose (Rosa)

As you may have gotten from the name, this tree with yellow flowers has a very strong scent to it that will fill your entire garden. You can find this rose shrub blooming in colors that range from apricot and peach to yellow. Due to the powerful scent and the stunning colors, this plant won the All-American Rose Selection in 2004. 

This rose will grow very well in well-drained but slightly acidic soil with moderate watering. It does best in full sun with regular pruning to help encourage the flowers to bloom every season. Putting this plant in mulch can help the roots retain moisture while preventing weed growth. 

14. Lydian Broom (Genista Lydia)

This shrub has a pretty greenish-blue foliage to it with vibrant yellow but small blooms. These shrubs are a fantastic choice for any gardener who wants to add bursts of yellow throughout their flower beds. When they are mature, this shrub will form a mound-like shape that is more compact. 

You can plant this shrub in virtually any soil, and they tolerate everything from poor soil to very acidic. These plants aren’t fussy at all, so it’s rare that you’ll need to add fertilizer. They like regular watering and full sun until they establish themselves. 

15. Mahonia (M. aquifolium)

This evergreen shrub has leaves that look a lot like a holly bush, and it has several species that belong to the bigger berberidaceae family. It gives you pretty yellow flowers during the spring that fade to navy berries in the summer months. It gets between three and eight feet tall at full maturity, and it’s a very dense shrub that works well for concealing the yard and increasing your privacy levels. 

To get this shrub to thrive, you want to plant it in zones five to nine in a partially shaded location. It needs moist but permeable soil. The spiney foliage will deter deer, and the berries are edible if not very tart. 

16. Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)

The Oregon Grape is Oregon’s state flower. This shrub offers colorful foliage all year-round with purple and green leaves, blue or purple fruit, and brilliant yellow flowers no matter which season you’re in. The fruit isn’t actually a grape, but it’s edible with a very tart flavor profile. 

This tree with yellow flowers does best in a soil that drains well. They thrive when you get them in an area that has acidic to neutral soil in full sun spaces. You should make a point to water the ground regularly, at least once a week, to help keep the soil well-maintained and moist. 

17. Palo Brea (Parkinsonia praeco)

Palo brea will grow between 20 and 25 feet tall, and it offers a unique interwoven canopy that has green bark branches that are very distinct. It’s semi-evergreen, and the bark from this tree with yellow flowers can photosynthesize for the drought-tolerant cultivar. The yellow flowers bloom during mid spring before giving way to brown seed pods. 

This plant does best in full sun in permeable soil, and it’ll thrive if you plant it in zones 9 to 11. It’s actually a good xeriscaping plant as it’s an unruly tree that does best in arid, open spaces where it can stand out. 

18. Palo Verde (Parkinsonia praecox)

These trees with yellow flowers are breathtaking, and they’re semi-evergreen with bright yellow flowers with an orange center. The tiny flowers will fill the tree and contrast nicely with the greenish-blue foliage and branches. Along with the tiny flowers, the trunk and branches offer an interesting look. 

The trunk has smooth green bark on it, and each of the branches will develop twists and turns that weave as they grow. You can grow this tree at virtually any time of the year, aside from the colder winter months. You’ll need to plant it in well-drained, deep soil and avoid shallow watering sessions. You’ll need to water them once a month in the winter and biweekly during the summer. 

19. Perforate St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

This is a very showy shrub that has two-toned foliage with yellow flowers dotted all over it. This is a yellow perennial flower, so it’ll come back year after year. The foliage is either bluish-green or green, and it’ll change to a greenish-yellow color in the fall. Every five-petaled flower has several stamens with small black dots. 

You should grow this evergreen shrub in sunny spots in northern gardens, but plants in southern areas prefer partial shade. It likes fertile, well-drained soil that you water regularly, no matter which planting zone you live in. Adding compost once a year will boost growth. 

20. Pontic Azalea (Rhododendron luteum)

Better known as honeysuckle azaleas, this tree with yellow flowers is famous for their scent and the colorful foliage they produce in the spring. This is a medium-sized bushy shrub that has clusters of yellow funnel-shaped flowers. This is a poisonous shrub, so you want to be careful where you plant it. 

This plant does well in moist, cool spots in sunny locations. You should plant them shallowly in an area that is protected from the strong winds to ensure it stays healthy. Adding mulch once a year will ensure that it retains moisture around the roots and it keeps the soil cool. 

21. Potentilla 

There are several varieties of this ornamental shrub around that you can plant in your landscape by your ornamental grass. The Sunset Potentilla has orange, bold flowers that fade to yellow as summer progresses. The Primrose Beauty cultivar has greenish-gray leaves with pale yellow flowers. 

To get this plant to thrive, grow it in an area that is full sun to partial shade. It likes moist, loamy soil with a pH that ranges between five and seven, and it does best in zones three to seven. Every variety is resistant to deer and will attract butterflies to the yard. 

22. Spindle Bush (Euonymus europaeus)

This deciduous evergreen shrub has a very stunning structure. They have greenish-yellow foliage in the spring with fuschia colored fruit with reddish-orange seeds during the fall months. They make fantastic decorative bushes because of the colorful, unique appearance. 

They thrive when you plant them in full sun areas, and they’ll bloom well when you shower them in sunshine. They can also tolerate partial sun. They do well in all soil types, and they can adapt to any acidity level. They require regular watering sessions until they establish themselves. 

23. Sweet Acacia (Vachellia farnesiana)

The fragrant flowers on this tree with yellow flowers make it an adored option to plant in your yard. It’s a semi-evergreen shrub that has a vase shape. It’s an eye-catching option that has fuzzy yellow flowers in clusters that bloom in the spring. You can grow this shrub in a warm, sunny area. During the summer, especially when it gets really hot, the shrubs will need heavy watering to produce flowers and keep the foliage healthy. 

24. Thevetia (Thevetia peruviana)

Also known as oleander, this tree with yellow flowers is smaller, and it tops out between 6 and 12 feet high. It has glossy, bright green foliage. During the summer months, the blooms are funnel-shaped and vibrant yellow. Once it flowers, it’ll produce black seed pods that you can avoid if you trim the spent flowers right away. 

This plant grows best in full sun in loam to sandy soil. You should plant it outside in zones 9 to 11 for the best results. All parts of this plant are highly toxic, and the milky sap that the tree produces can cause irritation if your skin comes into contact with it. 

25. Tipu Tree (Tipuana tipu)

This pretty legume tree is native to Bolivia. This tree with yellow flowers is on the larger side and it looks like it has a flat top to give you a nice amount of shade. They grow rapidly, and they get between 15 and 20 feet tall. Each winter, this tree offers a bright green foliage before it sheds the leaves in the springtime. 

You can grow this tree in virtually any soil type, including moist or dry soil, sand, and clay. They do very well in acidic soil, but they can grow decently well in alkaline soil too. They need a lot of water to be healthy, but they’re also slightly resistant to drought. 

Tipuana tipu by Jan Smith / CC BY 2.0

26. Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)

At a glance, it’s easy to mistake this tree with yellow flowers for Forsythia due to how the blooms look. SInce it blooms after the winter, the Chinese call it Yingchun. This loosely translates into the “flower that welcomes spring.” Winter Jasmine will thrive in a sunny area that has full sun with a well-drained soil. It needs two or three watering sessions each week during the spring and summer months, and you can gradually reduce how much you water in the fall and winter to once a week. 

27. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis)

Witch hazel trees with yellow flowers offer pastel petals that won’t bloom until the middle of fall. The branches grow upward, and they look like an upside down triangle. A lot of people grow this plant for the skincare benefits, including bug bite relief and sunburn relief. They get roughly 15 feet wide and 30 feet tall on top. You can use it in hedges and borders, and they work as decorative trees too. You can grow them in sunny locations or in partial shade in hotter areas. They like regular watering and grow well in soil that is very nutrient-dense. 

28. Yellow Buckeye (Aesculus flava)

This tree with yellow flowers grows in an oval shape and offers stunning fall coloring. It has dark green leaves that change from bright yellow to orange during autumn. The flowers that produce the nuts are a pastel yellow, but the buckeyes are poisonous. These trees do well in full sun areas, but you’ll have to give them a lot of water. Grow them in well-drained, moist soil that is slightly acidic. You can find them growing in soils in river bottoms and soils, and they can tolerate brief flood periods. Dry soil can destroy how the foliage looks. 

29. Yellow Camellia Shrub (Camellia nitidissima)

Camellia trees with yellow flowers have pretty pastel coloring that are more creamy than bright. Some flowers can have a pink tinge too, and the colors will deepen once the flowers bloom full. Depending on your variety, this plant grows in partial shade or full sun during the fall or spring months. You’ll want to plant them in an area that has some shade to protect them from the more intense sun when they’re young. You don’t want to put them in full shade as they won’t flower. The foliage will offer coverage from the sun as they mature. 

30. Yellow Chain Tree (Laburnum)

This tree has golden flowers that droop in big clusters that get up to 20 inches long to lend a very unique look. They also have a very intense scent that can take a while to get used to, and younger trees will need stakes to support the growth. You should plant them in the early spring or late fall, and they grow best in full sun in well-drained soil that’s acidic or alkaline. They’ll grow at a rate of two feet per year, and you want to water them weekly. 

Yellow Chain Tree by Anders Adermark / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Bottom Line

These 30 cheerful shrubs and trees with yellow flowers can easily brighten up your landscape all season long. With a little care and the right growing conditions, they’ll thrive and fill in the area with pretty foliage and eye-catching flowers.