Countless yellow flowers bloom worldwide in the sunniest, most cheerful color of them all! Whether your favorites blossom with vibrant citron, a soft buttery hue, or a golden shade, they’ll add zing to your garden and a smile to all your bouquets. This guide will take you through 55 types of yellow flowers with names and photos for your next indoor or outdoor gardening project.
50 Popular Types of Yellow Flowers:
1. Leopard Plants (Ligularia)
Ligularia is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants commonly called leopard plants belonging to the Asteraceae (aster/sunflower/daisy/composite) plant family. They grow natively in Central and Eastern China but have been cultivated for ornamental purposes worldwide.
Ornamental varieties are true showstoppers in gardens within USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8. Their spires of yellow flowers tower over large leaves, reaching up to 5 feet in height.
2. Canna Lily (Canna)
The Canna genus contains ten flowering plants, commonly called canna lilies. Although canna lily blossoms resemble those of true lilies, they are not lilies. Relatives of canna lilies include birds of paradise, gingers, and arrowroots.
Canna lilies are just as prized for their lovely foliage, which can be broad and striped with purple and green, as they are for their attractive blossoms in various tropical colors, including vibrant yellow.
3. Begonias (Begonia)
Begonia is a genus containing more than 2,000 species of perennial flowering plants. With so many species, there are a variety of ornamental cultivars with attractive foliage and showy flowers that bloom in several colors, including yellow.
Begonias are only winter hardy in zones 9 and 10. In zones 2 through 8, however, they can be grown as annuals in the summer or enjoyed perennially if you have a warm, sheltered location for overwintering them.
4. Sunflower (Helianthus)
Helianthus is a genus containing 70 species of flowering plants commonly called sunflowers. The common name is a direct translation from the Greek words helios (sun) and anthos (flower), and it refers to the flower’s resemblance to the sun with its yellow center and corona of ray-like petals.
Before their flowers blossom and just after, sunflowers also have a trait called heliotropism, meaning they move with the sun, ensuring they soak as much energy as possible.
5. Tickseed (Coreopsis)
Flowers in the Coreopsis genus are called tickseed, which refers to their tiny achene (fruit) shape. The scientific name also comes from the insect-like appearance of these seeds; the Greek words koris and opsis respectively mean bedbug and view.
Despite the creepy monikers, tickseed is quite beautiful and native to South, Central, and North America, making them an excellent choice for attracting pollinators to your garden.
6. Daisies (Asteraceae)
Asteraceae is a family of flowers containing nearly 2,000 plant genera and more than 32,000 species of flowers commonly called daisies, asters, and sunflowers. Most flowering plants in this family are herbaceous annual, biennial, and perennial flowering plants. However, the family also contains a handful of flowering vines, shrubs, and trees!
While this family boasts a wide range of diversity in its members’ characteristics, they all share star-shaped, flat-faced, or button-like flowers.
7. Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
Commonly referred to as a gerbera daisy, Barberton daisy, and a Transvaal daisy, Gerbera jamesonii is a species of flowering plant in the Gerbera L. genus that belongs to the Asteraceae plant family. While gerbera daisies grow natively in Africa, South America, and Asia, the Gerbera jamesonii comes from Southeast Africa.
The gerbera daisy is popularly included in cheerful and celebratory floral bouquets thanks to its pretty double-layered ray florets and notably bright colors.
8. Lantana (Lantana)
Lantana is a genus of flowering plants in the Verbenaceae (verbena) family. They can grow natively in the tropical regions of the Americas and Africa. Still, they have been introduced to other tropical regions, especially Australia, where they are now considered invasive.
In hardiness zones 8 through 11, lantanas are best grown in containers and other controlled garden locations, as they spread quickly, are difficult to exterminate, and can become invasive. Despite their aggressive growth habits, lantana’s beautiful, multi-colored flower clusters are experts at attracting local pollinators like butterflies and bees.
9. Marigold (Tagetes)
The genus Tagetes contains a variety of herbaceous flowering plants that are commonly called marigolds – not to be confused with plants of the Calendula genus, which are also sometimes called marigolds.
Marigolds are native to regions from the Southwestern United States into South America. Their button-shaped florets in a range of golden hues are pretty to admire. What’s more, marigold pest resistance is effective in deterring nematodes, deer, rodents, rabbits, and javelina.
10. Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia)
Kniphofia is a genus of perennial flowering plants that are native to Africa. In addition to red hot poker, common names include poker plant, tritoma, and torch lily. The more colorful of these names refer to the appearance of the plant’s flower spikes, which stretch up above its grass-like leaves. With spiky yellow, orange, and red flower cones – often multi-colored – these flowers look like pokers just removed from a fire.
11. Yellow Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa)
The yellow coneflower is one of 10 species of flowering perennial herbs that belong to the Echinacea genus. Many types of coneflowers are native to the dry prairies and grasslands of Arkansas, Missouri, South-Central Oklahoma, and a small part of Eastern Texas.
They feature bright yellow petals surrounding a fuzzy brown center. The petals are swept back from the center, creating a shape similar to that of a badminton shuttleco*ck.
12. Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)
Native to Western Asia and Europe, Ficaria verna belongs to the buttercup (Ranunculaceae) plant family. In addition to lesser celandine, it is also commonly called pinwort and is known as the fig buttercup in North America.
It has glossy, green, heart-shaped leaves that have a fleshy texture. They almost look like clusters of lily pads sprouting from the stem. The plant’s lemon-colored flowers are distinctive in shape, with 7 to 12 glossy tepals surrounding a fuzzy, yellow center.
13. Dahlia (Dahlia)
The Dahlia genus contains 42 species of flowering plants and even more hybrids and cultivars that are grown for their stunning, abundant pincushion blossoms that have both disc and ray florets. Each ray floret is a flower, often mistaken for petals.
Dahlias of all colors are popular plants for growing in containers and garden beds in hardiness zones 8 to 11 as perennials and 3 to 7 as annuals.
14. Cinquefoils (Potentilla)
The Potentilla genus contains a variety of perennial herbaceous flowering plants, shrubs, and vines, all belonging to the Rosaceae (rose) plant family. These plants are called creeping cinquefoils, shrubby cinquefoils, silverweeds, five fingers, and barren strawberries but are just as widely referred to by their genus name.
Winter hardy in growing zones 2 through 7, potentilla plants are famous for gardens because they are easy to grow and maintain even in cold winters.
15. Wishbone Flower (Torenia fournieri)
The wishbone flower features trumpet-shaped blossoms in various colors, including blue, purple, pink, and yellow, and most of the flower varieties have yellow markings. They’re popular annuals for filling up space in shady gardens since they’re easy to grow in zones 2 through 11 and offer abundant blooms that start in June and continue until the first frost.
16. Billy Buttons (Craspedia globosa)
Craspedia globosa is a flowering plant species belonging to the daisy family. In addition to this yellow-hued species, all plants in the Craspedia genus are native to Australia and New Zealand.
Commonly called billy buttons or woolly heads, Craspedia plants have 12 to 18-inch tall stalks and foliage atop which bloom globe-shaped clusters of tiny flowers. These bulbous blossoms look almost like small golf balls and are famous for cut arrangements and drying.
17. Jonquil (Narcissus jonquilla)
Also commonly called rush daffodil, Narcissus jonquilla is a species of bulbous flowering plant from the daffodil (Narcissus) genus native to Portugal and Spain. It has also been naturalized across other regions of Europe and areas in the United States.
Jonquils blossom in clusters of up to five yellow or white trumpet-shaped flowers. Some of the first to bloom after winter, jonquil flowers symbolize spring, renewal, and rebirth.
18. Yellow Rose (Rosa)
There is not just one kind of yellow rose. Among 300 species and thousands upon tens of thousands of cultivars of roses, several have yellow blossoms. Some of the most popular include Lady Banks’ rose (Rosa banksiae), Julia Child rose (Rosa ‘Julia Child’), yellow Persian rose (Rosa foetida), sulphur rose (Rosa hemisphaerica), Manchu rose (Rosa xanthina), and Sunsprite roses (Rosa ‘Sunsprite’).
In the language of flowers, all yellow roses symbolize friendly affection and can be given as a token of one’s friendship.
19. Yellow Oleander (Cascabela thevetia)
Yellow oleander is a poisonous evergreen tree or shrub native to Mexico and Central America. Despite its common name, Cascabela thevetia is not a true oleander. However, it is a closely related cousin.
The Spanish word cascabel translates to small bell, snake rattle, and rattlesnake. Yellow oleander’s scientific name could refer to the bell-shaped yellow flowers, the plant’s toxic nature, or both.
20. Million Bells (Calibrachoa)
Commonly called million bells or trailing petunia, Calibrachoa is a genus of flowering perennial plants in the nightshade family. They grow in shrub-like clumps and have a trailing, sprawling habit. Although short-lived, these beauties produce copious numbers of small, petunia-shaped flowers throughout the spring and summer.
A favorite for hanging baskets and window boxes, million bells bloom in countless varieties in almost any color and combination of colors you can imagine.
21. Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
Native to the northern latitudes of Asia, Europe, and North America, Lonicera is a genus containing 180 flowering shrubs and vines commonly called honeysuckle. While the blossoms are pretty, honeysuckle is primarily known for the fragrance of its flowers’ nectar,, which is warm, sweet, and touched with citrus and honey notes. These fragrant yellow flowers are a treat for the human senses, and the nectar also attracts hummingbirds.
22. Snapdragons (Antirrhinum)
Snapdragons are popular garden plants and cutting flowers that fare well in rock gardens, cottage gardens, beds, and borders. They produce columns of pinnate leaves atop which spires of blossoms shoot upward. The dragon-shaped flowers bloom in shades of yellow, white, pink, red, and various combinations.
After the blossoms are spent, snapdragons produce seed pods that resemble tiny skulls, making them a favorite for Halloween decorating.
23. Cowslip (Primula veris)
Primula veris (cowslip, common cowslip, or cowslip primrose) is an herbaceous perennial belonging to the primrose plant family. They have rosettes of long leaves from which stems sprout to produce clusters of yellow, bell-shaped flowers.
Native to the temperate regions of Asia and Europe, Primula veris commonly hybridizes with other members of the genus, such as Primula vulgaris (common primrose), and produces plants like the false oxlip.
24. Nemesia (Nemesia)
Native to South Africa, Nemesia is a genus of both annual and perennial blooming plants. While the natural species prefer cooler climates, more heat-tolerant cultivars have been produced. As a result, they can be grown successfully in hardiness zones 2 through 11.
With their pansy-like, two-lipped petal faces, these plants are popular additions to cool-season, springtime garden beds where they’ll bloom like crazy, creating carpets of vibrant color.
25. False Indigo (Baptisia sphaerocarpa)
Commonly called false indigo, yellow wild indigo, yellow wisteria, or bush pea, Baptisia sphaerocarpa is an upright perennial flowering plant with columns of bright-green ovate leaves topped with long spikes of delicate, pea-shaped, yellow flowers.
In zones 5 through 8, they’re perfect for planting in borders and beds in cottage gardens, informal gardens, and prairie meadows for wild cultivation.
26. Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
This deciduous shrub belongs to the legume plant family and is native to central and western Europe. They grow about 10 feet tall, with stems featuring small trifoliate leaves. In the spring and summer, golden-yellow flowers completely cover their stems.
Scotch Broom is an invasive species and noxious weed in several parts of the world, including parts of the west and east coasts of North America, India, Australia, and New Zealand.
27. Axilflower (Mecardonia)
Native to South America and parts of the southeastern United States, Mecardonia is a herbaceous plant genus featuring bright-green leaves and cheerful, yellow flowers.
These plants work well as a ground cover in gardens, borders, and beds and grow nicely in containers and hanging baskets. In hardiness zones 10 and 11, these perennial plants will grace your garden with yellow flowers yearly. In colder climates, they can be grown as annuals but need at least 6 hours of full sun each day.
28. Pansy (Viola wittrockiana)
Pansies are hybrid flowers in the Viola genus that blossom from early spring until summer. They’re perennial, with their sweet flower faces reappearing each spring, in zones 6 to 10.
The name pansy comes from the French word penseé, which means thought and is associated with the flower’s 15th-century symbolic meaning of remembrance.
29. Common Hyacinth (Hyacinth orientalis)
The common, Dutch, or garden hyacinth (Hyacinth orientalis) is known best for its strong fragrance. Many associate their sweet perfume with the beginning of spring since these perennial bulbs are among the first to emerge after winter, often pushing themselves up through the still-snowy ground.
Popular yellow varieties include the hyacinth yellow queen, gypsy princess hyacinth, and the yellow stone hyacinth.
30. Freesia (Freesia)
The Freesia genus contains several flowering perennials in the iris plant family. They feature trumpet-shaped flowers in various vibrant colors, including sunshine yellow.
In zones 9 and 10, they can be grown outdoors as perennials. In cooler climates, however, they can also be enjoyed outdoors as annuals or grown indoors, where you’ll be better able to appreciate their sweet, soapy fragrance.
31. Yellow Tulip (Tulipa)
Tulips are bulbous perennials of the Tulipa genus, which belongs to the lily plant family. Due to their popularity throughout history – even briefly being used as currency during the Dutch Golden Age – tulips come in countless varieties and cultivars.
In the Victorian language of flowers, yellow tulips symbolized “sunshine in your smile.” Today, they represent similarly bright meanings, including joy, cheerfulness, and hope.
32. Elegant Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)
Commonly called elegant zinnia, common zinnia, or youth-and-age zinnia, Zinnia elegans is a flowering annual native to Mexico but can be cultivated in gardens in hardiness zones 2 through 11.
Its ruffled blossoms feature several layers of petals that bloom in highly saturated colors, including yellow, pink, red, orange, and white.
33. Goldenrod (Solidago)
Commonly referred to as goldenrod, flowering plants from the genus Solidago get a bad rap in the United States, where they are considered weeds and often inaccurately blamed for hay fever. They bloom simultaneously as ragweed, the culprit for most people’s allergies.
In Europe, however, goldenrod plants are prized in gardens and intentionally cultivated for their vibrant yellow flowers and nectar that attract various pollinators.
34. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
Flowers from the genus Rudbeckia are native to North America and commonly grow wild in the central United States. Black-Eyed Susan flowers feature raised central discs in a brownish-black color surrounded by a ring of bright-yellow petals. They’re hardy perennials in zones 3 through 7 and popular flowers for containers and cottage gardens alike.
35. Stickseeds (Bidens)
Flowering plants of the Bidens genus have many common names that refer to the shape of their seeds and small fruits. These common names include beggarticks, burr marigolds, Spanish needles, blackjack, stickseeds, tickseeds, cobbler’s pegs, and tickseed sunflowers. Even the scientific name comes from the Latin words for two and tooth, referring to the double-toothed seeds of the plants.
36. Forsythia (Forsythia)
Forsythia is a genus of 11 flowering, deciduous shrubs that are all native to East Asia except one species that comes from southeastern Europe.
Nicknamed the Easter tree, Forsythia’s yellow blossoms emerge before the foliage in early spring and represent the new season’s coming. Flowers cover the shrubs entirely in swaths of lemon-yellow color. These low-maintenance plants can quickly be grown in hardiness zones 5 through 8.
37. Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
Portulaca oleracea (commonly referred to as common purslane, pursley, little hogweed, or duckweed) is a tropical, perennial succulent that can be grown outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. Elsewhere, it is grown as an annual or indoors.
Common purslane produces delicate, almost-translucent yellow flowers, but it is best known for its high nutritional value, as its leafy greens contain various essential vitamins and nutrients.
38. St. John’s-Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
This yellow-flower-producing plant is best known for its medicinal properties. Since the ancient Greeks, St. John’s-wort has been used as an herbal remedy for depression. Today, it is still taken as an herbal supplement to help stave off the adverse effects of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and seasonal affective disorder.
However, you should check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding St. John’s-wort to your health regimen because it can interact with other medications.
39. Honeycomb Butterfly Bush (Buddleia x weyeriana ‘Honeycomb’)
The butterfly bush is a flowering shrub native to central China and Japan. It produces large cones of flowers that weigh down its branches, causing them to arch gracefully. As the plant’s common name indicates, butterflies love these flowers. Planting a honeycomb butterfly bush in your yard will attract many helpful pollinators to the garden. The Honeycomb butterfly bush is hardy in zones 5 through 9.
40. Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum)
Also referred to as mums or chrysanths, flowers from the Chrysanthemum genus are primarily native to East Asia, with a few species originating in northeastern Europe. The genus contains countless varieties and cultivars of all colors, shapes, sizes, and petal types, with flowers shaped like buttons, spiders, discs, pincushions, and more.
Despite the plant’s modern diversity, natural chrysanthemums tend to be gold or yellow. The name “chrysanthemum” comes from the Greek words for gold and flower.
41. Strawflower (Xerochrysum bracteatum)
Strawflowers look a bit like daisies, but their petals have a thick, papery feel because they aren’t petals but bracts. With their vibrantly colored and unusual-looking blossoms, strawflowers are famous for growing in cutting gardens and drying to use in craft and decorating projects.
They’re easily grown as perennials in zones 8 through 10 but can be grown as annuals in colder climates.
42. Bird’s-Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
The Lotus corniculatus gets its common name from the appearance of its long, slender seed pods that resemble bird feet. These flowers belong to the pea family and grow natively in the temperate grasslands of northern Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Despite their pretty whorls of yellow flowers, they’re considered an invasive species in North America. Efforts are underway in many regions to try to eradicate them.
43. Yarrow (Achillea)
Plants of the Achillea genus are commonly called yarrow. They have fuzzy, aromatic leaves and produce flat clusters of small flowers at the tops of their stems. The flowers can be yellow, white, pink, orange, or red.
Yarrow gets its genus name from the mythological hero of the Greek Trojan War, Achilles, since legend says that his soldiers used yarrow to treat their wounds.
44. Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus)
Commonly called yellow flag, water flag, or yellow iris, the Iris pseudacorus is an herbaceous perennial. They are native to Asia, Europe, and North Africa.
Yellow iris has become an invasive species in several parts of the United States, where it has invaded wetlands and hindered the growth of native plant populations.
Despite this, it’s a popular garden plant for its bright yellow flowers that sprout in the typical iris form, easily recognizable in the more common purple varieties of irises.
45. Stonecrop (Sedum)
The Sedum genus contains about 500 species of flowering, leafy succulents that are commonly called stonecrop. Various species are annual, biennial, or perennial.
Stonecrop produces flowers in various colors, including yellow, and grows with various habits, including creeping, mat-forming, mounding, and upright. They attract both butterflies and hummingbirds, making beautiful additions to all kinds of gardens in hardiness zones 3 through 9.
46. Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is a tropical flowering plant that is popularly cultivated and grown in tropical regions all around the world. Despite its popularity, it’s not found in the wild, so its native origins are unknown.
Commonly called rose mallow, Chinese hibiscus, Hawaiian hibiscus, China rose, and shoeblack plant, the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis has highly ornate, large, trumpet-shaped flowers with prominent stamens. They bloom in vibrant shades of yellow, orange, peach, pink, red, and white.
47. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Colloquially called pot marigold, Scotch marigold, common marigold, or ruddles, the Calendula officinalis should not be confused with marigolds of the Tagetes genus, as these are entirely different flowers.
They produce flat-daisy-shaped flowers in shades of yellow, gold, and orange. Their extracts and oils are common ingredients in skincare products, as they’re thought to help enhance moisture and healing.
48. Daylily (Hemerocallis)
Despite the look of their flowers, similar to Asiatic lilies, and their common name, daylilies are not true lilies; they belong to the Asphodelaceae plant family.
Daylilies get their name from their blossoms, which typically only last for one day. They open early, remain brilliant until sundown, and wither at night. They are usually replaced by another bloom when the sun rises the next day.
49. Evening Primrose (Oenothera)
Native to the Americas, flowers of the Oenothera genus are commonly called sundrops, suncups, or evening primrose. However, they are unrelated to the true primroses, which belong to the Primula genus.
Different species vary significantly in size, but most evening primrose plants form a rosette of leaves from which a stalk-like stem grows to produce a column of, most commonly, yellow flowers (sometimes white, red, purple, or pink).
50. Downy Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens)
The downy yellow violet (also called yellow violet) grows naturally throughout the United States and Canada.
These perennial herbaceous plants bloom in spring, starting in early April and continuing until the weather grows warmer in June. They have bright yellow blossoms in the traditional face-like shape associated with violets. Unlike other violets, the downy yellow violet has slightly hairy foliage, hence its name’s “downy” part.
51. Yellow Passionflower (Passiflora lutea)
This vine belongs to the Passifloraceae family and is native to the southeastern United States. The flower has bright yellow petals with a central, intricate structure of long, spindly stamens. It has distinctive, serrated leaves and climbs using tendrils. It blooms from late spring to early fall and produces small, edible fruit.
52. Golden Trumpet (Allamanda cathartica)
This plant belongs to the Apocynaceae family and is native to South and Central America. The vine produces large, showy, trumpet-shaped yellow flowers that bloom all year round. It has glossy, dark green leaves and can grow up to 20 feet long. The plant is toxic if ingested.
53. Yellow Waterlily (Nymphaea lotus)
This aquatic plant belongs to the Nymphaeaceae family and is native to Africa and the Middle East. Yellow Waterlily boasts large, fragrant yellow petals that float on the water’s surface, with a center of numerous stamens. The leaves are circular and float on the water’s surface as well. The plant is often used in water gardens and has medicinal properties.
54. Ginger Lily (Hedychium flavescens)
Ginger Lily belongs to the Zingiberaceae family and is native to China and Taiwan. The plant produces bright yellow flowers that grow in clusters on tall, leafy stems. The flowers have a sweet, citrusy fragrance and are used in perfumes and oils. The plant has long, lance-shaped leaves and can grow up to 6 feet tall. It blooms in late summer and early fall.
55. Cattleya Orchid (Cattleya dowiana)
This type of orchid plant belongs to the Orchidaceae family and is native to Central America and northern South America. The flower produces large, showy yellow flowers with a distinctive frilled lip. What’s more, the plant has broad, thick leaves and grows on tall stems. It blooms in the spring and summer and is often used in corsages and floral arrangements.
FAQs:
What kinds of flowers are yellow?
Yellow flowers cover a broad and diverse spectrum of annuals and perennials native to many regions and growing zones.
Are yellow flowers rare?
Plants that produce yellow flowers are relatively common compared to other colors, such as purple.
What is the prettiest yellow flower?
While beauty is best described as being in the eye of the beholder, some of my favorites include the Day Lily, Chinese Hibiscus, Nemesia, and Yellow Oleander flowers.
What are some popular yellow flowers for spring?
Some popular yellow flowers for spring include daffodils, tulips, forsythia, and primroses. These flowers are often associated with new beginnings and the arrival of spring.
Are there any yellow flowers that are poisonous?
Yes, some yellow flowers can be poisonous if ingested. For example, the Golden Trumpet (Allamanda cathartica) mentioned earlier contains toxic compounds. It’s essential to do your research and take precautions when handling or growing any plant.
What are some exotic yellow flowers?
Some exotic yellow flowers include the Bird of Paradise, Yellow Passionflower, Golden Trumpet, Yellow Waterlily, and Yellow Ginger Lily, as mentioned earlier. These flowers’ unique shapes, colors, and characteristics make them stand out in a floral arrangement or garden.
Yellow Flowers Where? Yellow Flowers Everywhere!
From the tundra to the tropics, yellow flowers are in blossom worldwide. Whether you enjoy growing your flowers in containers, in a garden bed, or indoors, you can find a blooming plant that will brighten your home, welcome friends, and add a bit of cheer to everyday life.
Further reading: Discover the most beautiful types of white flowers:
Andrew Gaumond
Editorial Director | andrew@petalrepublic.com | Full Bio
Andrew is the Editorial Director at Petal Republic. He holds a BSc degree in Plant Sciences and has trained professionally at leading floristry schools in London and Paris. In amongst overseeing a global editorial team, Andrew's a passionate content creator around all things flowers, floral design, gardening, and houseplants.
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