Yellow flowers beam with an inviting brightness. Like the sun, they symbolize happiness and warmth. These flowers also pair well with many other colors including purples, oranges and blues. Several types of yellow flowers are great for beginner gardeners and don't require much maintenance. If you're looking for lovely yellow flowers to plant in your yard and flower beds, these 10 vibrant blooms will do the trick.
10 Yellow Flowers We’re Crazy About
1
/
10
Sunflowers
These brilliant, annual yellow flowers boast big, daisy-like flower faces of bright yellow petals with brown centers and come in multiple varieties that mature into full heads brimming with seeds. Linda Vater of Southern Living® Plant Collection says sunflowers are great for beginner gardeners and anyone looking for a strong flower that’s easy to grow. Most are heat- and drought-tolerant, and attract bees and birds.
“They can be sown directly into the ground after the last frost, and they will germinate quickly, sometimes within a few days,” Vater says. “This rapid initial growth is very encouraging for new gardeners who might be impatient for results.”
2
/
10
Daffodils
March’s flower, these cheerful blossoms signify spring. The hardy and easy bulb-flowers feature six petals and a trumpet-shape central corona. They’re great for planting between shrubs or in a border, and prefer a sunny or partly sunny space.
3
/
10
Zinnias
These bright yellow flowers feature daisy-like heads on a tall, slender stem. Because they grow quickly, they shade out weeds, making flower bed cleanup much easier! Zinnias don’t require mulching, and need only an occasional well-balanced mix of fertilizer. Zinnias come in many colors, but you can plant a single color strain if you have a favorite.
4
/
10
Rosa “Julia Child” Floribunda Rose
This highly scented, northern-hardy rose loves a sunny location and will bloom all summer. Named for the famous chef, this plant’s blooms start out as dark yellow buds and then open up into multi-petaled, buttery-yellow flowers. There are so many good selections available that there’s absolutely no reason to plant any of these troublesome flowers.
5
/
10
Yellow Butterfly Bush
Offering lance-shaped leaves with arching branches, these aromatic yellow flowers will liven up your landscape while attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. They provide a sunny yellow color with an orange center. They’re drought- and deer-resistant, and even make a great cut flower for your floral arrangements.
6
/
10
Gerbera Daisies
One of the most popular flowers across the globe, these beauties are often used as cut flowers in floral arrangements. But, gerbera daisies are easy to grow in your own garden, and make a wonderful addition to your flower bed for added vibrancy. The cheerful flowers come in a variety of luscious shades, including yellow.
“Gerbera Daisies have an extended blooming season, even in the heat of summer, with minimal inputs and no pruning,” Vater says. “They are also resistant to pests and diseases and thrive in containers.”
You can also grow some other unusual flowers in your garden like- zinnias, asters and toad lilies.
7
/
10
Begonias
Brilliant begonias come in many colors and can handle the shade, so if you have a garden that’s low on sun, these flowers are a safe bet. Plus, they can also tolerate drought conditions and a lot of sun! These easy-to-grow flowers do well in containers or when planted directly into the ground. Choose the yellow variety for a burst of sunny color.
8
/
10
Black-Eyed Susans
These electrifying yellow flowers will liven up your landscape with their rich, golden-yellow petals and bronze-black centers. Black-eyed Susans are disease-free and drought- and deer-resistant. They also attract butterflies and hummingbirds! If you’re fond of darker hues, here are some flowers that are almost black.
9
/
10
Daylilies
Daylilies are sun-loving perennials that produce flower buds in stunning hues of purple, red, orange and yellow. These adaptable flowers can survive drought, flooding and salt. They tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions and are not troubled by diseases or pests. “Their fleshy, tuber-like roots store water, allowing them to withstand dry spells without consistent irrigation,” Vater says.
10
/
10
Marigolds
These extremely low-maintenance flowers prefer full sun, and require just a touch of deadheading in order to bloom well into fall. They can handle infrequent watering, too! Marigolds are also pest-free flowers, and so are great for planting in vegetable gardens to ward off potentially damaging insects.
Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
FAQ
Do yellow flowers need more sunlight than other flowers?
Yellow flowers do not generally require more sunlight than other flowers. This usually depends on the species of flowers themselves.
What colors pair best with yellow flowers?
Yellow flowers are very versatile and pair well with many other colored flowers, including purples, blues and oranges.
About the Experts
Linda Vater is a gardening expert representing Southern Living® Plant Collection.
