36 Types of Yellow Flowers for Your Garden

Daffodils (Narcissus spp.)

No listing of great yellow flowers would be complete without daffodil (Narcissus spp.), which in many regions is the spring kick-off flower. Unlike many bulbs, daffodil bulbs can last for decades, even spreading as time goes on.

Daffodils can be grown just about anywhere in the U.S., except for some coastal areas in the extreme South. Daffodils are sometimes naturalized in lawns, creating drifts of color in the early spring before turf grasses take over.

• USDA Growing Zones: 4–8
• Color Varieties: Yellow, white, pink, orange
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Rich, moist

Yellow Archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon)

Yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon) is similar to the dead nettle plant (Lamium genus) but has yellow flowers. This perennial plant thrives in shade gardens, growing 1 to 2 feet tall and blooming in early summer.

The leaves are variegated, one of its most beautiful features. Its worst feature is that it can be invasive in some regions.

If you have planted a named cultivar of this plant, the many volunteer seedlings may not come true to the parent plant. Over time, this may cause the look of the plants to degrade.

• USDA Growing Zones: 4–8
• Color Varieties: Yellow blooms, flecked with brown
• Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
• Soil Needs: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained

Yellow Alyssum (Aurinia saxatilis)

A perennial cousin to the popular annual alyssum (Aurinia maritima), yellow alyssum (A. saxatilis) is a spring-blooming ground cover. Yellow alyssum looks great planted with creeping phlox (Phlox subulata), another ground cover.

Such ground covers can beautify even the plainest of hardscape structures. These plants do not thrive in hot, humid weather. In hotter climates, it is easiest to grow this plant as an annual.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3–7
• Color Varieties: Yellow
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Dry to average moisture, well-drained

Golden Chain Tree (Laburnum × watereri)

The golden chain tree is a deciduous tree growing 15 to 30 feet, blooming with yellow flowers in late spring. The foliage is light green, and while this tree is not all that attractive at other times of the year, the pendulous cascades of golden yellow blooms in spring make it all worthwhile. This is one of the few trees with yellow flowers. This plant produces plentiful suckers that should be removed as they appear if you want to keep the tree-like appearance.

• USDA Growing Zones: 5–7
• Color Varieties: Golden yellow flowers
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Medium moisture, rich, well-drained

Hybrid Witch Hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia)

The various hybrid witch hazels (Hamamas x intermedia) are deciduous shrubs or small trees that are the first plants to bloom in many regions. They flower in late winter or very early spring with ribbon-like yellow flowers before the leaves even appear.

Remove root suckers as they appear to prevent the plant from colonizing and spreading. The 'Arnold Promise' (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise') is a popular variety that has fragrant yellow flowers and yellow-to-orange-to-red fall color.

• USDA Growing Zones: 5–9
• Color Varieties: Yellow (sometimes orange or red) blooms
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained, acidic

Japanese Rose (Kerria japonica)

The Japanese rose (Kerria japonica) boasts long, if somewhat uneven blooming periods. The Kelly-green arching branches with a zig-zag pattern make it easy to identify, and it's truly unmistakable when covered with yellow chrysanthemum-like blooms in early spring.

This plant flowers on the previous year's wood, so if pruning is needed, do it immediately after flowering is finished.

• USDA Growing Zones: 4–9
• Color Varieties: Yellow blooms; greenish-yellow bark
• Sun Exposure: Part shade
• Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained

Forsythia (Forsythia spp.)

Forsythia is a deciduous shrub that is truly a herald of spring in many regions. These shrubs grow 2 to 10 feet tall, depending on variety, with upright arching stems that become covered with yellow blooms in early spring.

Like Kerria japonica shrubs, forsythia does spread over time: when its branches make contact with the ground, they put down roots. If you have a small yard, you'll need to control the spread of this plant.

• USDA Growing Zones: 5–9
• Color Varieties: Yellow
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Loose, medium moisture, well-drained 

Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)

Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), also called cowslip, is a low-growing perennial with yellow flowers that bloom above dark-green, rounded leaves in spring. As the name suggests, these are common along streams and in swamps, and they work well in moist areas of the landscape.

Although the foliage is very attractive and is sometimes cooked to eat, the raw leaves are slightly toxic and can cause skin irritation. In hot summer climates, don't be surprised if the plant goes dormant during the hottest months of the year.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3–7
• Color Varieties: Yellow blooms; dark green foliage
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Damp

Iris (Iris spp.)

Perennial iris of all types—bearded iris, Dutch iris, crested iris, Siberian iris, Japanese iris— are available in cultivars that have yellow blooms. The iris plant received its name from the rainbow goddess of Greco-Roman myths, a reference to the vibrancy of the flowers and the vast array of floral colors found in this genus. Iris has pointed sword-like leaves, from which taller flower stalks emerge in early spring to early summer.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3–9
• Color Varieties: Yellow, blue, purple, lavender, white
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Varies, depending on variety

Stella d'Oro Daylily

There are many yellow cultivars of perennial daylily (Hermerocallis spp.), but 'Stella d'Oro' is one of the most popular, thanks to its long bloom period and repeat-blooming habit. All daylilies are known for blooms that last just one day, but good-performing daylilies produce so many blooms that you can usually count on color for at least two or three weeks.

'Stella' is even more productive in that regard, reliably blooming from early summer to midsummer, then again for two or three weeks in late summer and early fall.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3–9
• Color Varieties: Golden yellow
• Sun Exposure: Full sun; tolerates some afternoon shade
• Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained; tolerates poor soils

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) was long used as a medicinal herb. Nowadays, we care more about it as an ornamental perennial. From our earliest days as children, we are intrigued by the "flat-top" look of yarrow's flower heads.

Yarrow is a very easy-care plant that requires little water and no feeding. It has a very long bloom period—from June to September.

Yarrow can spread somewhat uncontrollably when growing in an ideal location so be prepared to remove self-seeded volunteers. Yarrow is toxic to dogs, cats, and livestock. In some individuals, touching the plant may cause skin irritation or rashes.

• USDA Growing Zones: 5–8
• Color Varieties: Yellow, pink, red
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

There are many types of sunflowers (Helianthus annuus), ranging from 3 feet tall with dainty, daisy-like flowers, to towering 12-foot giants like 'Skyscraper', with huge, pan-shaped flowers.

These plants grow very quickly. Seeds sown into garden soil in spring will shoot up many feet and produce spectacular flowers by mid-summer.

Left to dry on the stalk, the flower seeds will provide a banquet for birds. Be wary about allowing these plants to go to seed if you live in one of the regions where it is considered invasive. For example, some areas in the Midwest consider the common sunflower a noxious weed.

• USDA Growing Zones: Grown as annuals in all zones
• Color Varieties: Yellow, orange, mahogany, bi-colors
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Average moisture, well-drained; good tolerance for dry soils

Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta)

The black-eyed Susan is very easy to grow and has one of the longest bloom periods of any perennial flower—from early summer into mid-autumn. Growing to a height of 2 to 3 feet, the flowers resemble yellow daisies or small sunflowers—which is no surprise, since all of these flowers are members of the huge Asteraceae (daisy) family of plants.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3–7
• Color Varieties: Yellow to orange-yellow; brown centers
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained; good tolerance for dry conditions

Globe Centaurea (Centaurea macrocepha)

Closely related to the Centaurea species commonly known as bachelor buttons or cornflowers (which usually have blue or lavender flowers), the globe centaurea (C. macrocephala) is a perennial species with yellow flowers.

It is exceptionally easy to grow—so easy that it is considered invasive in parts of the Northwest U.S. Plants have an upright growth habit with stalks up to 4 feet tall and thistle-like yellow flowers that appear for two to three weeks in mid-summer. The flowers remain attractive as they dry and are great for dried flower arrangements.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3–8
• Color Varieties: Yellow
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Dry to medium moisture, well-drained; good tolerance for arid soils

Arctic Poppies (Papaver nudicaule)

A plant similar to the familiar poppy but with yellow flowers is Papaver nudicaule, which is known as the Arctic or Icelandic poppy. Although these are perennial plants, they are very short-lived and are more often grown as annuals or biennials.

These cold-weather plants are easily grown from seeds sown into the garden several weeks before the last frost. Arctic poppies grow 1 to 2 feet tall and bloom in late spring and early summer.

• USDA Growing Zones: 2–7; usually grown as annuals or biennials
• Color Varieties: Yellow; some variations are orange, salmon, rose, pink, cream, or white 
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Rich, evenly moist, well-drained

Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.)

Azaleas are members of the Rhododendron genus of woody shrubs and are more often deciduous plants, not evergreen like many rhododendrons. And azaleas have more cultivars with yellow flowers including the solar flare sunbow azalea, golden lights azalea, and the golden oriole.

In regions where the soil has a heavy clay content, azaleas are best grown in raised beds with soil that is amended for good drainage.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3–9 (depends on variety)
• Color Varieties: Yellow, red, purple, pink, white
• Sun Exposure: Part shade
• Soil Needs: Humusy, well-drained, acidic

Shrubby Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa)

Shrubby cinquefoilI (Potentilla fruticosa) is sometimes known simply by its genus name, Potentilla. It is a deciduous shrub growing 2 to 4 feet high with prickly stems, befitting its membership in the rose family of plants. The leaves are a medium green or bluish-green, and the 1- to 1 1/2-inch yellow star-shaped flowers bloom throughout the summer in most regions.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3–7
• Color Varieties: Yellow; pink, white, and orange cultivars are also available.
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained

Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)

The annual marigolds that so commonly brighten gardens all summer long and well into fall include several species in the Tagetes genus and their many cultivars. These flowers are well known for their warm colors, which include many shades of yellow, orange, and mahogany red. Marigolds are often planted among vegetables in organic gardens. Deer are also repelled by the scent of marigolds.

• USDA Growing Zones: Grown as annuals in all zones
• Color Varieties: Yellow, orange, mahogany red, white
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Evenly moist, well-drained

Dahlia (Dahlia spp.)

Dahlias are considered to be late-season flowers, blooming midsummer through the first frost. Dahlias come in various forms, offering different colors, shapes, sizes, and patterns. The yellow variety of dahlia is known as the kelvin floodlight, which is adorned with broad, flat petals slightly rolled at the tips.

• USDA Growing Zones: 8-10
• Color Varieties: Yellow, red, pink, orange, purple, white
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained soil

Begonia (Begonia)

The begonia is a low-maintenance plant. The genus Begonia actually has more than 2000 different species. There are various forms of begonia that don yellow blooms such as "non-stop yellow" begonia and "yellow sweetie." Begonia requires frequent water and thrives in moist, rich soil.

• USDA Growing Zones: 9-10
• Color Varieties: Pink, red, white, yellow, orange 
• Sun Exposure: Partial sun to shade
• Soil Needs: Moist and rich; slightly acidic

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)

Mums are a beautiful staple of fall decor. It's important to plant these gorgeous flowers in the spring to give them time to root. This will ensure the best blooms possible that will come back year after year. Full sun is also essential for getting your mums to bloom gloriously.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3-9
• Color Varieties: White, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple
  
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Needs: Rich and moist; acidic or neutral

Rose (Rosa spp.)

Roses aren't just red, despite the popular poem; they also come in various other hues including yellow. Varieties of yellow roses include the "Graham Thomas," "Julia Child," and "Eternal Flame." Roses thrive in full sun and loamy, well-drained soil.

• USDA Growing Zones: 2-11 (depending on the type)
• Color Varieties: White, red, pink, yellow, orange
  
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Needs: Loamy and well-drained

Daisy

There are more than 20,000 species of daisies you can grow right in your garden, ranging in hues from pink to white to purple to yellow. When it comes to yellow daisies, some options include the butter daisy, curly leaf daisy, and euryops daisy. Do know that some daises are considered invasive in certain parts of the United States and therefore discouraged from planting. Do your research before committing.

• USDA Growing Zones: Varies by type
• Color Varieties: Pink, yellow, white, purple
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Needs: Varies by type

Tulip (Tulipa spp.)

Tulips are a symbol of springtime, flowering in April or May, bringing fantastic color to any landscape. With the exception of blue, tulips come in every color imaginable, including yellow. Yellow forms of tulips include golden charm tulips, sun gold tulips, and yellow margarita tulips. Plant your tulips in the fall for the most stunning spring display.

• USDA Growing Zones: 8-10
• Color Varieties: Red, pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, black, white
  
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil

Primrose (Primula spp.)

The primrose is a flower of the Primula genus, which contains over 500 species. If you're looking for yellow primroses, some potential options include Primula veris, Primula vulgaris, and more. Primroses are woodland plants, meaning they do best in moist soil with a slightly acidic pH.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
• Color Varieties: Red, pink, orange, yellow, blue, purple, white
  
• Sun Exposure: Partial sun, shade
• Soil Needs: Moist and well-drained acidic soil

Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)

Coneflowers are wildflowers native to the United States that are known to attract songbirds, bees, and butterflies. Coneflowers bloom mid-summer and continue to show off their colorful petals sporadically until the first frost. For yellow coneflowers, consider Cleopatra or the Ozark varieties.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3-9
• Color Varieties: Green, orange, pink, purple, red, white, yellow
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Soil Needs: Well-drained

Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)

The yellow trout lily is a woodland plant native to North America, blooming between March and May. If just planted, be patient; the yellow trout lily may take several seasons before it begins showing off its stunning yellow flowers. When planting, make sure you give it plenty of room so it can spread.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
• Color Varieties: Yellow
• Sun Exposure: Partial, full shade
• Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained; acidic (below 6.8)

Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.)

Coreopsis, also known as tickseed, is a low-maintenance plant that will add a beautiful pop of color to your landscape. It is drought-tolerant and blooms for a long period of time, from su mmer to the first frost. It likes sandy, well-drained soil and full sun exposure.

• USDA Growing Zones: 2-11
• Color Varieties: Red, orange, yellow, pink, white
  
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Needs: Sandy, well-drained

Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

Just as their name suggests, the goldenrod is a glorious yellow wildflower native to North America. Goldenrod is tall and slim and features fluffy yellow flower spikes. Goldenrod needs plenty of sun to thrive. Well-drained soil is also a must. Goldenrod will bloom during the summer and fall.

• USDA Growing Zones: 2-8
• Color Varieties: Yellow
• Sun Exposure: Full to partial sun
• Soil Needs: Well-drained

Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)

Part of the Aster family, the gerbera daisy is native to South Africa and comes in a number of vivid hues. If you're looking for a yellow variety, look no further than the terracotta gerbera daisy. These feature double yellow petals but with a hint of peach.

• USDA Growing Zones: 8-10
• Color Varieties: Red, yellow, orange, pink, white
  
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial
• Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained

Latana (Lantana camara)

Latana are beautifully vibrant flowers that look great in flowerbeds or containers such as pots. Latana is fast-growing and is best placed in full sun. Latana also loves humidity. If you have pets, do be warned that this plant is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses.

• USDA Growing Zones: 7-11
• Color Varieties: Red, orange, yellow, blue, white, pink
  
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Needs: Well-drained

Amur Adonis (Adonis amurensis)

Amur adonis is a vibrant yellow flower that is one of the first to bloom during the springtime. That said, the amur adonis is known as a "spring ephemeral," meaning that it will become dormant in summer. Plant it in well-drained soil, though make sure it's kept evenly moist.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3-7
• Color Varieties: Yellow
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Needs: Well-drained

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

Snapdragon are short-lived garden perennials but are often grown as annuals. This popular flower comes in a burst of vibrant hues, including yellow. It can take snapdragons up to two to three months fo bloom from seed germination, so do be patient with these slow growers.

• USDA Growing Zones: 7-11
• Color Varieties: White, yellow, pink, red, orange, purple
  
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial
• Soil Needs: Moist and well-draining

Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

Zinnia are as easy to grow as they are to love. These warm-season annual flowers bloom generously, in a variety of colors, including yellow. Zinnias require minimal care but will still reward gardeners with a color display in the summer. Zinnias are especially partial to super hot climates.

• USDA Growing Zones: 3-10
• Color Varieties: Pink, purple, yellow, orange, white, red, green
  
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Needs: Well-draining

Bidens (Bidens spp.)

Bidens, also called Spanish needles, tickseed sunflowers, and beggarticks, are beautiful perennials that bloom for nearly half a year. These flowers closely represent daises. If you're looking for yellow petals, try the Bidens alba or Golden Nugget varieties.

• USDA Growing Zones: 8-11
• Color Varieties: Yellow, gold, white, pink, orange
  
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Needs: Well-drained

Calibrachoa (Calibrachoa group)

Calibrachoa, more commonly known as Million Bells, is one of the most well-loved flowers to grow outdoors in containers. When it comes to colors, Million Bells certainly give you your pick, ranging from buttercup yellow to bright pink. The 1-inch flowers resemble tiny petunias.

• USDA Growing Zones: 9-11
• Color Varieties: Coral, yellow, orange, red, pink, blue, purple, burgundy, lavender, cream
  
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained