Yellow flowers are a great way to brighten up a garden. Any outdoor space can benefit from even the smallest splash of color that these bright blooms are guaranteed to bring.
This list of 25 yellow flowers is designed to include as many different types of ornamental plants as possible. Whatever you are looking for, from spring flowering bulbs and ornamental blooms to larger shrubs, herbaceous specimens, and plants that benefit the birds and pollinators in your local area you are sure to find at least one suggestion to suit. While some suggestions may require a little expert regular care others are low maintenance and easy to grow. Each of our 25 yellow flowers can be grown on its own, in mass plantings or alongside other plants to brighten a space.
Why not take the time to look through the list and select one or two, or more, yellow flowers for your garden?
1 Begonia
Bright and colorful, the Begonia is a staple of the summer flower bed. A herbaceous perennial that blooms in an eye-catching shade of yellow, as well as other colors, if you want to create a colorful long lasting display, Begonias are a reliable choice.
Rex Begonias are amongst the most well known Begonia varieties that also include ixioides and semperflorens. The latter are two popular choices for ornamental blooms. Begonias are full sun loving plants that require lots of regular water and moist soil to flower to their fullest. Most varieties are hardy in zones 9 and 10.
The bright blooms of a begonia are an attractive ornamental addition to the garden.
2 Marigold
One of the most useful plants, the yellow flowers of the Marigold (Tagetes) are pleasingly easy to grow. This makes them a great choice for novice or nervous gardeners. One of the few yellow flowers on our list that are annuals, marigolds are, once established, pleasingly resistant.
A popular companion plant, the blooms attract scores of pollinators to the garden. They can also repel aphids, nematodes and other pests. This makes them a popular inclusion in vegetable gardens. To prolong flowering, water during dry spells and plant in full or partial sun.
Marigolds, if properly positioned and cared for, flower from spring until the first frosts. As the blooms fade, seeds emerge. These can be harvested and sown on for more plants the following year.
The ever useful marigold.
3 Coreopsis
Coreopsis fill your garden with long lasting yellow flowers throughout the summer months. Adding to the attraction of these bright daisy-like blooms is their dark red center which attract bees and pollinators to the garden. If the blooms are allowed to fade on the stem the seed heads also attract garden birds.
Native to the United States, these reliable plants come in a range of heights. This versatility means that they can be used in a range of positions throughout the flower bed or in containers. A member of the Asteraceeae family, these full sun loving perennials require regular water until they are established and new growth is visible. Coreopsis plants are hardy in zones 3 to 9.
Cheerful coreopsis blooms are a magnet for bees.
4 Daylily
The next inclusion on our list is a great way to add ornamental interest to the garden. The showy, trumpet shaped blooms of the Daylily are also a good way to attract pollinators and hummingbirds to the garden.
A member of the Hemerocallis genus, these sun loving perennial plants require regular watering. Hardy in zones 3 to 10 each flower lasts just one day, however the plants set numerous blooms throughout the year so you will struggle to notice how briefly each bloom lasts.
The distinctive blooms of the Daylily.
5 Black-Eyed Susan
One of the brightest yellow flowers, Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a reliable annual. Thriving in full sun position and well draining soil, these wild plants are an increasingly popular choice in home gardens. Their blooms, which are typified by large, flat petals, reach upwards towards the sun on long, elegant stalks.
Popular amongst pollinators and bees, Black-Eyed Susan plants are hardy in zones 3 to 7. As well as being a good choice for a flower bed or container, these bright blooms also make good cut blooms. If you want to add Black-Eyed Susan to your garden, this is a great growing guide.
The bright and distinctive Blacy-Eyed Susan.
6 Chrysanthemum
A traditional member of the flower garden, Chrysanthemums, or mums for short, are a colorful addition to any sized garden. Flowering in a range of shades, their bright yellow flowers thrive in full sun. These reliable perennials are hardy in zones 3 to 9.
Flowering in late summer or early fall, growing Chrysanthemums is a great way to add color to the garden as other plants start to fade. Smaller or dwarf varieties can also be grown in pots or windowsill planters.
Bright Chrysanthemums are a colorful addition to the fall garden.
7 Witch Hazel
Another inclusion on our yellow flowers list which provides early season or winter color, Witch Hazel is a deciduous shrub. Some cultivars can also be grown as small trees. Early to flower, often before the foliage appears, not only does Witch Hazel introduce fiery, rich color to the garden but the blooms are also fragrant. Arnold Promise is a particularly fragrant and reliable variety.
Hardy in zones 5 to 9 these plants do best in full sun or partial shade positions and well draining, acidic soil. While the most popular varieties flower in early spring or late winter, you can also find late fall flowering types.
The early flowering, fragrant Witch Hazel.
8 Ranunculus
The attractive, thin, ruffled blooms of the Ranunculus are popular cut flowers. Equally at home in mixed flower beds or containers these flowering bulbs can be found in a range of colors. This adds to the interest surrounding these attractive sun loving perennials.
The Ranunculus blooms, which sit on long, elegant stems, emerge during cool spells. Mulching the soil around the plants helps to keep them cool, prolonging and encouraging flowering. Best grown in mild climates, the bulbs are hardy in zones 8 to 11. In cooler climates they grow well in pots undercover.
Large, ruffled Ranunculus blooms.
9 Craspedia
One of the most distinctive inclusions on our list of yellow flowers, Craspedia (Craspedia globosa) blooms resemble small pompoms on thin stems. Also known as Billy Buttons or Drumsticks, these attractive plants are easy to grow from seed and make attractive cut flowers. Hardy in zones 8 to 11, growers in colder zones can cover the plants with a Floating Frost Blanket or, if they are growing in containers, move the pots inside for the winter. Capable of reaching up to 2 ft in height, these sun loving plants add both color and texture to the garden.
Pom pom like Craspedia blooms.
10 Hyacinth
Another bulb on our list of yellow flowers, Hyacinths are surprisingly easy to grow. You can even grow them in water. While they are ornamentally attractive, the blooms only emerge once a year. This is usually in the spring unless they are grown undercover and forced. With regular, proper care Hyacinth bulbs return year after year.
A heat loving plant, Hyacinths are hardy in zones 10 and 11. These fragrant plants require lots of sun and regular watering to encourage blooms to form.
More commonly seen in shades of blue or purple, the yellow flowers are just as attractive.
11 Daffodil
The national flower of Wales, the yellow flowers of the Daffodil is one of the most recognizable of the spring plants. Coming in a range of shapes and sizes, including double flowering varieties, daffodil bulbs can be planted in beds, pots or in wildflower lawns.
Looking at their best in groups or mass plantings with other spring flowering bulbs such as tulips, Daffodil blooms may not last long but they certainly make a visual impact in the short while they are open.
A perennial, Daffodil (Narcissus) plants do best in full sun. Regular watering, particularly during dry spells, helps to prolong flowerings. Best in a neutral soil, the bulbs are typically hardy in zones 3 to 10.
A host of golden daffodils are a sure sign that spring has arrived.
12 Daisy
For most people upon hearing the word Daisy they will think of small, white blooms with a golden center. However, these versatile blooms actually come in a range of shapes, sizes and colors. Large gerbera or pom pom like daisies can add interest and drama to a mixed flower bed while African daisies are a great choice for a splash of bright color.
Small but certainly not insignificant the Daisy (Bellis perennis) is often treated as an annual plant but is in actual fact a perennial, hardy in zones 8 to 10. For a good floral display, plant in full sun.
Bright Gerbera daisy blooms.
13 Goldenrod
A clump forming perennial wildflower that looks best when emerging en masse as part of a natural planting scheme, Goldenrod produces plumes of distinctive fluffy yellow flowers.
A useful plant in many ways, Goldenrod is a good source of nectar for bees and butterflies. The plants are also used by insects and butterflies to shelter their larvae. This makes them a good companion plant, attracting beneficial insects to your garden and drawing harmful or destructive bugs away from the vegetable garden.
Flowering in late summer, Goldenrod (Solidago) is the state flower of both Kentucky and Nebraska. Plant these reliable perennials in full sun or partial shade. Largely drought tolerant, they are hardy in zones 4 to 9.
The clump forming Goldenrod is a good companion plant.
14 Butterfly Bush
Native to China and Japan, the Butterfly Bush looks attractive in any garden, filling the space from spring until early fall with long panicles of colorful blooms. Typically flowering in shades of pink and purple, you can also find varieties producing bright yellow flowers.
As the name suggests the Butterfly Bush is a great way to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators to the garden. These plants, also known as Buddleia, are hardy in zones 5 to 9. Despite keeping its shape well, the Butterfly Bush has a vigorous growth habit meaning you will need to prune it regularly.
A Butterfly Bush attracts scores of butterflies to the garden.
15 Roses
A staple of many flower gardens, the classic rose is an attractive, versatile plant. Flowering in a range of colors, including yellow flowers, the blooms can last from spring until the first frosts. Additionally, regular deadheading encourages more blooms to emerge.
Perennial plants, most Roses are hardy in zones 5 to 9. Plant in full sun and water regularly for the best display. Available as shrubs, climbers, ramblers or elegant hybrids and dwarf varieties there is a Rose plant for almost every situation. Be careful when pruning your roses, some stems are particularly thorny. A good pair of work gloves helps to protect your hands.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Occ2WuIBnU
16 Primrose
A member of the primula family, the primrose thrives in full sun but also blooms in shady positions on the edge of a flower bed or as part of a forest garden. The plants also grow, in a range of colors, in pots and hanging baskets.
Typically flowering in early to mid spring, during mild winters these attractive blooms can also emerge in December. Best planted in a group, or with other spring flowering plants, regular watering helps to prolong flowering.
The primrose brings small pops of color to a bed or pot.
17 Freesia
Bright, distinctive and fragrant, Freesias come in a range of colors including bright yellow flowers. Originating in Africa, today these plants are commonly grown in many areas.
Hardy in zones 9 to 10, in cooler climates they are best grown in containers. This enables you to protect them during the colder, winter months. A great way to add interest, color and fragrance to a mixed flower bed or cut garden you can also grow the bulbs undercover on a sunny windowsill. Thriving in a range of planting schemes these attractive blooms are largely pest resistant and, once the bulbs are established, drought resistant.
Spicily fragrant and eye-catching, the Freesia is a reliable inclusion in even the smallest growing space.
18 Water Lily
A popular water or pond plant, yellow flowers floating on a pond are bright and eye-catching. Water Lilies (Nymphaea hollandia) bloom in various shades, including yellow flowers, throughout the summer months. Available in a range of elegant shapes, dwarf varieties can be planted in old water barrels filled with water. Hardy in zones 1 to 11, these reliable perennials do best in full sun.
A Water Lily is a good way to add color to a pond.
19 Yarrow
Another one of our useful yellow flowers, Yarrow is loved by many pollinators. It can also be used in a range of herbal remedies.
An attractive ornamental, when in flower the plants tall, slender stems are covered in clusters of domed shaped blooms. Yarrow (Achillea) is a perennial plant which is low maintenance and drought tolerant. Hardy in zones 3 to 9, plant in full sun for profuse floral displays. A great inclusion in a flower bed or to add color to a herb garden, yarrow is a pleasingly reliable plant.
Tall and elegant, Yarrow is a reliable planting choice.
20 Carnation
Another one of our yellow flowers that are available in a range of different colors, Carnations are reliable, low maintenance perennials. Typically producing a large flower on top of a stalk, which also produces smaller blooms along its length, you can also find low growing carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) varieties. Some even have a creeping growth habit, making them ideal for providing floral ground cover.
Hardy in zones 3 to 9, water a few times a week to encourage the flowering buds to form. Fragrant varieties add both color and scent to a bed or pot.
Carnations come in a rainbow of bright colors.
21 Hibiscus
The Hibiscus is immediately recognizable thanks to its eye-catching, trumpet shaped blooms. The yellow flowers are a great way to draw butterflies, pollinators and hummingbirds to an outdoor space.
In cooler climates tropical varieties are best grown undercover. Other varieties are hardy in zones 5 to 8. Outside of this planting range grow your Hibiscus either as an annual or move it undercover, to a greenhouse or unheated garage, for the winter. Placing your pots on a Metal Plant Caddy helps you to move them inside during the winter months and outside again during the summer.
The official state flower of Hawaii, Hibiscus plants do best in acidic soils. Water regularly, particularly when the plants are in flower, to prolong flowering.
The distinctive bloom of the Hibiscus adds interest to the garden.
22 Pansy
A popular companion plant, the versatile Pansy is pleasingly easy to grow. Typically grown as annuals in zones 6 to 10 you can also grow Pansies as perennials or biennials. Blooming in a range of colors, the yellow flowers are particularly eye-catching.
If planted in well draining, rich soil these plants flower from spring until the start of winter. Each variety of Pansy grows in its own unique shape. Different varieties can have petals in different positions while some blooms may have dark centers. This variety helps to add to their attraction.
Colorful pansies are a popular bedding plant.
23 Zinnia
These easy to grow annuals look at their best in mass plantings. This allows you to fully appreciate their bushy yellow flowers.
Zinnias (Zinnia elegans) are reliable annuals that if planted in a favorable position flower profusely. Hardy in zones 3 to 10, once established they require little regular maintenance or watering, unless your garden is experiencing a particularly prolonged warm or dry spell. As well as introducing color to your garden they are also a valuable source of nectar for pollinators.
Zinnias are popular with many different types of pollinators and beneficial insects.
24 Snapdragon
Low growing Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) are an eye-catching addition to any flower bed or container garden. Despite being an old fashioned plant, Snapdragons are still a popular inclusion in a range of planting schemes.
As well as color, Snapdragons can also bring height and soft structure to a flower bed. Spiky and long lasting the fragrant blooms come in a range of bright colors including yellow flowers. Regular deadheading encourages more blooms to form. With just a little regular Snapdragons last throughout the spring and summer months. A tender perennial, these are surprisingly resilient, low maintenance plants.
Colorful Snapdragons add height and fragrance to a flowerbed.
25 Sunflower
Easily one of the most iconic yellow flowers, Sunflowers (Helianthus) are a popular plant with growers of all ages. Children in particular like trying to grow the tallest Sunflower possible.
Both quick and easy to grow, the tallest varieties can reach 16 ft. Taller specimens should be supported with a bamboo stake.
Along with Marigolds, Asters, Coneflowers and Dandelions, Sunflowers belong to the Asteraceae family. Interestingly young plants are heliotropic, meaning that the yellow flowers follow the sun across the sky. Popular with birds and pollinators, allow spent flower heads to remain in place. As they fade seeds emerge. These are popular with a range of garden birds or can be harvested.
Bright Sunflowers are one of the most recognizable yellow flowers on our list.
Planted alongside red and orange blooms, yellow flowers can be used to introduce warmth to a space. They can also look particularly attractive when planted in mass groups, for a bright single color theme, or if mixed up alongside purple and blue blooms. However you choose to use them, and whatever you decide to plant, yellow flowers are a great way to brighten up an otherwise dull garden.
