Beautiful and Easy-to-Grow Yellow Flowers for a Sunny Garden

Planning your garden can be a fun and rewarding activity, but it also involves plenty of decision-making. Filling your garden with colourful flowering perennials is always a great idea. Yellow flowers make perfect additions to all types of gardens, be it wildflower meadows, city gardens, cottage gardens, pond gardens, and even Mediterranean gardens. The colour yellow is associated with joy, happiness, and friendship. Also, yellow flowers attract beneficial insects such as native bees, beetles, butterflies, and moths, thus helping your other plants thrive.

If you want to turn your garden into a sunny, joyful place where you can relax and have fun with your friends, fill your garden with yellow blooms! Not sure what plants to choose? Keep reading as we’ve prepared a list of the most beautiful yellow flowers that are also very easy to grow and care for!

Roses

Yellow roses were discovered in the Middle East and were first cultivated in the 18^th century. Beloved by gardeners ever since they quickly became staple ornamentals all over the world. There is no doubt that roses are the perfect flowers for any garden. They come in so many different sizes, shapes, and colours, but the most joyful ones are, of course, the yellow ones. You can opt for rambling, climbing, shrubs, and even mini roses that can be grown in containers. Some of the most attractive yellow roses are hybrids which are hardy and produce plenty of blooms.

Floribunda yellow roses, such as ‘Julia Child’, ‘Monkey Business’, ‘Sunsprite’, and ‘Doris Day’, are shrubby and produce large sprays of flowers.  These roses are vigorous, have a nice scent, and are quite pest and disease-resistant. They are great for mass plantings and thrive in many different climates. David Austen, the famous rose breeder, also loved yellow roses, so he produced many beautiful hybrids such as ‘Golden Celebration’, ‘The Poet’s Wife’, ‘Ausmas’, ‘Rosa Molineux’, and ‘The Pilgrim’.

As mentioned above, there are many different options to choose from when it comes to yellow roses. Every hybrid comes with unique features and qualities. If you are looking to hide a less-attractive area of your garden, you can opt for rambling or climbing yellow roses such as David Austen’s ‘Teasing Georgia’, ‘Lady Hillingdon’, and ‘Graham Thomas’.

A great thing about growing roses is the fact that despite their scary thorns, according to the ASPCA all members of the Rosaceae family of plants are non-toxic and perfectly safe to grow around curious cats, dogs, and even horses.

Before you welcome these beauties into your garden, make sure you read our Guide to David Austin Roses, our Rose Planting Guide, our Miniature Roses Guide, and our Climbing Roses Guide.

Dahlias

Dahlias are amazing flowers that also come in many different colours and shapes. Their blooms can be pompon, ball, collarette, or cactus-shaped and their bright colours will fill any garden with joy. Dahlias are also a great source of nectar for many beneficial pollinators, so by planting them in your garden, you make a good contribution to the environment. Some of the most attractive yellow dahlia cultivars include Dahlia ‘Yellow Hammer’, which is a compact plant that can easily be grown in small gardens and even in containers, Dahlia ‘Oakwood Goldcrest’, which is a tall flowering plant that produces stunning blooms that can be used in flower arrangements, Dahlia ‘Primrose Diane’ which is very decorative and as well, Dahlia ‘Charlie, which is perfect for borders, and Dahlia ‘Yellow Galator’, which has a unique flower shape.

Growing and caring for dahlias is not a difficult task. All these flowering ornamentals need is fertile soil that is kept moist and that has good drainage and a sunny spot where they will also be sheltered from strong winds and scorching sun. Taller varieties of Dahlias might need staking to improve their stability. It is recommended to dig up the tubers in winter and store them in a frost-free location such as a garden shed or a greenhouse. In spring, once the last frost has passed, you can replant the tubers and enjoy the beautiful dahlias over the warm months.

You can plant Dahlias near anise, coriander, rosemary, mint, and thyme. Many flowering perennials pair well with Dahlias, so you can grow them alongside Alstroemeria, Crocosmia, Helenium, Hemerocallis, Geranium, Coneflower, Asters, Alliums, etc.

You can learn more about these amazing plants from our Complete Guide to Growing and Caring for Dahlias.

Yellow Irises

Iris pseudacorus’, commonly referred to as the yellow iris, yellow flag, or water flag, is a popular flowering plant that grows natively in many regions including Europe, western Asia, and northwest Africa. Native to the United Kingdom, Iris pseudacorus has an important role in the ecosystem as it represents an important breeding and feeding habitat for an endangered bird – the corncrake.

The flowers of the yellow iris are bright yellow and dramatic. This iris thrives in wet conditions, so it is a perfect pond plant. It can tolerate submersion and saltwater, so you can grow it in a wide range of environments. It spreads quickly, so you’ll get to have plenty of blooms around, but be careful as the plant is considered invasive in some places, such as British Columbia.

Although it is a big fan of aquatic environments, such as bog gardens and pond gardens, the yellow iris can survive in dry conditions, so you don’t need to have a pond to grow this plant. This iris makes a great addition to wildlife gardens and pairs well with other moisture-loving plants such as Solomon’s Seal, Hosta, Creeping Jenny, Cardinal Flower, Bearded Iris, and Water Lilies.

It is important to mention that the bulbs and the leaves of irises are poisonous, so it’s best to keep them in a location where curious pets won’t reach them.

Tulips

Beloved by gardeners all around the world, tulips are among the most popular spring flowers. Yellow tulips represent hope, happiness, and cheerfulness and there is no doubt that these attractive blooms can put a smile on anyone’s face. They are perfect for cutting gardens and, if you fill your garden with tulips, you’ll always be able to make a perfect bouquet for your loved ones. There are hundreds of different varieties of tulips, but our favourite yellow tulips include Tulipa ‘West Point’, Tulipa ‘Gold Fever’, Tulipa ‘Moonlight Girl’, Tulipa ‘Dance Line’, and Tulipa ‘Verona’.

Growing tulips is very easy – all you have to do is plant the bulbs in autumn and you’ll get to enjoy the attractive flowers in early spring. By planting different varieties, you get to have them around for longer, as they might have different blooming times. Generally considered perennials, tulips won’t always come back for a second year, so you can simply plant more to have plenty of them over the next season. Tulips are not picky when it comes to soil, but they will prefer a location where they will get plenty of morning sun. They are not big fans of heat, so they make great additions to temperate gardens.

Tulips can be planted alongside other bulb plants and flowering ornamentals such as hyacinth, grape hyacinth, snowdrops, alliums, crocus, daylilies, forget-me-nots, but also ornamental grass.

Read our Complete Guide to Growing and Caring for Tulips to learn more about these fantastic flowers.

Daffodils

Narcissus flowers, commonly referred to as daffodils are easy-to-grow and reliable plants that grow from bulbs and produce blooms in early spring. They spread quickly and, if you’re lucky, will fill your garden year after year. A great thing about daffodils is the fact that they are not picky when it comes to soil and can grow in both sunny locations and in places where they get partial shade. They are resistant to most pests, are not attractive to rabbits and deer, and don’t require any special attention.

The most common colour for daffodils is a bright sunny yellow, but white daffodils are also popular. The most popular varieties of yellow daffodils are Narcissus ‘New Baby’, ‘Tahiti’, ‘Rapture’, ‘Dutch Master’, while some of the most attractive white daffodils are Narcissus ‘Professor Einstein’, ‘Ice Follies’, ‘Toto’, ‘Ziva’, and ‘Sir Winston Churchill’. Not many gardeners know, but daffodils can also be pink (Breck’s Pink Daffodil Collection), orange (Narcissus ‘Orange Progress’, ‘Mary Gay Lirette’), and cream (Narcissus ‘Peaches and Cream’). These are just a few examples of unique-looking daffodils, but regardless of which type you find on the market, you’ll surely get to enjoy amazing-looking blooms. All daffodils are beautiful, but the most cheerful ones are the yellow varieties.

You can plant daffodils alongside other bulb spring-blooming flowers such as hyacinths, grape hyacinths, crocus, and tulips. But, being the friendly garden companions that they are, they won’t mind growing near other spring-blooming perennials such as columbines, poppies, and bleeding hearts.

Learn more about growing these amazing flowers from our complete guide to Daffodils.

Sunflowers

Helianthus, commonly known as the sunflower is an important resource, but it is also a great ornamental flower. Most varieties of sunflowers will reward gardeners with their well-known large yellow flowers, but they can also come in other colours such as red and white. They are easy to grow from seeds and growing and caring for them can be a great educational activity for the whole family. The most impressive feature of sunflowers is, of course, their height as they can reach up to two meters. Their blooms are long-lasting and they are easy-going which means they can be planted pretty much anywhere.

The ideal location to plant sunflowers is a patch with good soil and plenty of sunlight. It’s recommended to ament the soil with garden compost or manure before planting sunflowers. They are thirsty plants, so make sure you water them regularly. As mentioned above, there are many different varieties of sunflowers. If you don’t have a lot of space available, you can choose smaller varieties such as ‘Sundance Kid’, ‘Dwarf Sungold’, ‘Little Becka’, ‘Pacino’, ‘Dwarf Yellow Spray’, and ‘Happy Days’. You can also try your hand at growing different types of sunflowers, in which case, you can combine the sunny yellow ones with more unique-looking varieties such as ‘Moulin Rouge’, ‘Strawberry Blonde’, and ‘Chianti’.

The best companion plants for sunflowers are veggies such as lettuce, squash, cucumbers, onions and garlic, peppers, tomatoes, and peas. You can also plant sunflowers alongside other flowering plants such as marigolds and impatiens.

Read our complete guide to growing and caring for sunflowers to learn more.

Ranunculus

Ranunculus, known in the gardening world as Persian buttercups or rose of spring, are cool-season flowers that have similar growth requirements to snapdragons and pansies. They look amazing when planted in masses, and you don’t have to buy dozens of corms because each tuber will produce several flowers. Ranunculus flowers are great for cutting gardens as they make perfect additions to flower bouquets as their blooms can last for 10 days in water. They come in many different colours, shapes, and sizes so you’ll surely find the perfect ones for your garden. This article is all about yellow blossoms, and our favourite yellow ranunculus varieties include ‘Delano Yellow’, ‘Tecolote Yellow’, ‘Accolade’, and ‘Tomer Yellow’.

Ranunculus thrives in cool climates, especially in regions with mild winters and long, cool springs. The ideal planting season for these flowers is during the fall, but they can also be planted in late winter and early spring. The ideal location to grow them is in rich, well-drained soil. They are quite sensitive to excessive moisture, so you should avoid planting them in garden areas that are prone to puddles.

The best companions for Ranunculus are flowers with similar environmental requirements such as Iceland poppies, primroses, linaria, pansies, candytuft, larkspur, calendula, African daisies, and snapdragons.

Marigolds

Marigolds are probably the cutest and most cheerful plants you’ve ever seen. They are easy to grow and you can find them in any nursery or gardening store. They bring cheer to any summer and autumn garden as their blooming season is long. Their flowers appear in clusters and they come in many different shapes and sizes. African marigolds (Tagetes erecta), French marigolds (Tagetes patula), English marigolds (Calendula officinalis), and signet marigolds (Tagetes tenuifolia) are the most common ones. Our favourite yellow marigold varieties include ‘Baileya multiradiata’, Calendula officinalis ‘Bon Bon Yellow’, Park’s Whopper Yellow Marigold, Tagetes ‘Doubloon’, Tagetes ‘Discovery Yellow’, Tagetes ‘Inca Yellow’, and Tagetes ‘Moonstruck Series’, but these are just a few examples. There are hundreds of varieties available on the market that you can discover and fall in love with.

These easy-going flowers thrive when planted in areas where they can get plenty of sunlight and can withstand hot summers. The most drought-tolerant types of Marigolds are the African and signet varieties, while French marigolds are more tolerant to wet climates. It is not recommended to plant marigolds in places with too much shade because they are very sensitive to moisture and can quickly develop powdery mildew and other similar problems. In terms of soil, marigolds are not fussy, but they do best in moderately fertile, well-drained soil.

Learn more about growing and caring for these amazing plants from our Complete Guide to Marigolds.

Coreopsis

Coreopsis is a wonderful flowering plant known by most gardeners by its common name ‘Tickseed’. A member of the Asteraceae family (Daisy family), Coreopsis makes a perfect addition to your garden if you are looking for a cheerful plant that will attract pollinators. Coreopsis are long-lasting perennials that are easy to care for and that will reward you with their blooms throughout the warm months. Although we favour the yellow varieties in this article, you can also find red, white, yellow, pink, and mixed colour coreopsis flowers. The most attractive yellow coreopsis varieties include Coreopsis Grandiflora ‘Heliot’ and ‘Rising Sun’, Coreopsis lanceolate, and Coreopsis verticillata ‘Golden Showers’

The ideal environment for coreopsis is a sunny garden with un-amended soil. Easily grown from seeds, coreopsis plants will require frequent watering until they germinate. The germination period lasts for about three weeks, after which you’ll start to see the first signs of growth. Established flowers are low-maintenance, and to encourage growth and the production of more flowers, it is recommended to deadhead regularly. These plants don’t need much attention, just some occasional watering, especially during extreme drought, some deadheading, and some trimming. Read our guide to learn more about growing and caring for Coreopsis.

Ideal companion plants for coreopsis include other members of the daisy family, lilies, coneflowers, hemerocallis, beebalm, yarrow, and blanket flowers.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta, commonly known in the gardening world as Black-eyed Susan are cheerful yellow flowers with a black centre. These friendly garden companions belong to the daisy family, just like Coreopsis. They are native to North America and can easily be grown in Zones 3 to 9. They have a long blooming period that spans from June to September and they look great when planted in masses. A garden filled with Black-eyed Susans will surely be a head-turner, as their golden-yellow beauty stands out. Many beneficial insects are attracted to these flowers, so they are perfect additions to cottage gardens, wildflower meadows, and any other type of low-maintenance garden.

The ideal growth conditions for Black-eyed Susan flowers include a location with full sun. These plants can tolerate semi-shade, but won’t produce as many flowers as they would in a sunny location. They thrive in well-draining soil, ideally rich, but they will do well in less-fertile soil as well. If you are already growing other members of the daisy family, you won’t have any issues growing Black-eyed Susan, as they have similar needs. You can find all the info that you need in our Complete Guide to Black-eyed Susan.

Chrysanthemums

Also referred to as ‘mums’ or ‘chrysanths’, these flowering plants also belong to the Asteraceae family. Alongside roses, Chrysanthemums are among the most popular flowers in the world. There are thousands of different varieties to choose from and many of them were created through selective breeding. Their flowers come in many different shapes and sizes, the blooms ranging from 1 to 25 cm in diameter and their stems can be anywhere between 5 and 15 cm in height. The yellow colour is extremely popular in Chrysanthemums, so their place on our list is well-deserved, but they also come in other vivid colours such as pink, burgundy, lavender, purple, red, bronze, and white. Our favourite yellow varieties of Chrysanthemums are ‘Buttercup Yellow, ‘Avalon Sunny Yellow’, ‘Gold Rush’, ‘Honeyblush Yellow’, ‘Sundance Yellow’, ‘Hankie Yellow’, ‘Goden Cheryl’, and ‘Chelsea Yellow’.

Chrysanthemums start blooming at the beginning of autumn and they are representative flowers for November, as they are among the few blooms that you can enjoy during the cold season. They are not picky when it comes to soil and can survive in a wide range of environments. The ideal soil for them is well-draining with moderate, yet consistent, levels of moisture. Despite blooming in fall, they are big lovers of the sun, but they can survive with just 6 hours of sunlight per day.

Chrysanthemums grow well alongside ornamental peppers, pansies, ornamental cabbage and kale, sedums, coral bells, ornamental grasses, snapdragons, gerbera daisies, and dianthus.

You can learn more about growing and caring for these popular flowering plants from our Complete Guide to Chrysanthemums.

Begonias

Begonias thrive in tropical and subtropical gardens, where they do best when planted in shaded summer beds. Their attractive foliage and colourful blooms can spruce up a shaded corner of your garden. There are many different types of begonias and you can choose them based on their environmental requirements and their blooming time. Some begonias have a very long blooming period, producing flowers from early summer until late autumn, but this depends on the climate or on where they are planted. When grown indoors, begonias will bloom for longer periods than outdoors. The most popular types of begonias are wax begonias, tuberous begonias, cane begonias, rhizomatous begonias, and rex begonias. But let’s not forget that the focus of this article is yellow begonias, so some of our favourites are Begonia ‘Roseform Yellow’, Begonia ‘Nonstop Yellow’, and Begonia ‘Sun Dancer’.

The ideal location to plant a begonia is a location with filtered sunlight/partial shade. Begonias love morning sun but are quite sensitive to afternoon sun, which is why it’s best to protect them. Dark-leaved varieties will tolerate the sun better. It is important to mention that tuberous begonias die back each year, so you’ll have to take the tubers out of the ground in autumn, before the first frost and store them during winter in paper bags. Rhizomatous and wax begonias don’t die back, but they are suited for warm climates. To learn more about begonias, read our article about the best types of begonias to grow and our guide to growing rex begonia.

Gerbera Daisies

If you love daisies and you love sunflowers, then you will surely want to add Gerbera daisies to your plant collection. They are the perfect combination of size and beauty and are the fifth most popular flowers worldwide, after Roses, Dianthus, Chrysanthemums, and Tulips. If you already have those flowers in your garden, you must try your hand at growing gerbera daisies as well. These flowers have many advantages – they thrive with minimal care, are very attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds, are perfect for all types of gardens (cutting gardens, cottage gardens, tropical gardens), can be grown both indoors and outdoors, and last but not least, they make long-lasting cut flowers.

Gerberas come in many different colours, including white, salmon, red, orange, salmon, pink, lavender, and purple, but let’s focus on the most cheerful colour – yellow. Our favourite yellow gerbera varieties are ‘Don Leo’, ‘Gold Strike’, ‘Flori Line Maxi Yellow’, and ‘Garvinea Sweet Smile’. However, you don’t have to put too much effort into finding a certain variety because all gerberas are beautiful and you can’t go wrong when planting these flowers in your garden.

The ideal companions for gerbera daisies are ornamental short grasses such as Hakone grass, lobelia, sage, heliotrope, dichondra, million bells, helichrysum, and portulaca.

Basket of Gold

Another plant that you have to become more familiar with if you love yellow flowers is Aurinia saxatillis, a.k.a. Basket of Gold. This is the perfect plant if you’re looking to brighten up your garden with colourful blooms that will attract beneficial pollinators and will put a smile on your face. Although this flower produces small blooms, they grow in big clusters that look stunning. They make fantastic ground covers and can also be trained to cover certain areas that are less attractive such as fences, walls, etc.

The ideal climate for Basket of Gold is one with mild summers, as it can’t tolerate extremely hot and humid environments. In terms of location, Basket of Gold will thrive if you plant it in a sunny location with well-draining soil. Rich and moist soil isn’t ideal for this plant, but the soil needs to be kept moist if you grow the plant from seeds. Great companions for Basket of Gold include Phlox, Bleeding Hearts, Tulips, Candytuft, Blanket Flower, Stonecrops, and Salvia.

If you want to spruce up your garden with this amazing flowering plant, don’t forget to read our Complete Guide to Basket of Gold.

Forsythia

Our list would not be complete without Forsythia, a deciduous shrub that produces the most lovely yellow blooms. Also known as the golden bell, this shrub is native to East Asia and eastern Europe, but it can easily be grown in many regions of the world. It is fast-growing, which means you won’t have to wait for a very long time to enjoy its attractive flowers and it can grow up to 3 meters tall, so it makes a perfect garden shrub.

If you don’t have a lot of space available, don’t worry, you can opt for a dwarf variety. ‘Golden Peep’, ‘Gold Tide’, and ‘Goldilocks’ are just a few examples of dwarf, trademarked varieties of forsythia shrubs that don’t grow more than 70-80 cm (30 inches) in height. If you’re looking for a mid-size shrub, you can go for ‘Sunrise’ or ‘Show Off’ which measure around 1.5-2m. If you have plenty of space, why not go big and get a large variety of forsythia such as ‘Northern Gold’ (which is also cold hardy), ‘Lynwood Gold’, ‘Beatrix Farrand’, or ‘Karl Sax’.

Forsythia can grow in many different climates, it is not picky when it comes to soil, but it does require at least 6 hours of sunlight to thrive. It prefers well-draining soil and it can thrive in both rich and nutrient-poor soil. It doesn’t like excessive moisture, so make sure you avoid planting it in areas that tend to get waterlogged. Established forsythias can tolerate drought better than excessive moisture, but if you live in an area that doesn’t get a lot of rain, don’t forget to water your shrubs regularly.

If you are a pet parent and are worried that your furry companion might be tempted to munch on your plants, Forsythia is a great option because, according to the ASPCA, it is non-toxic to animals.

Forsythia is a friendly shrub that can grow well alongside other shrubs (common boxwood, flowering quince, Spiraea, cherry laurel), small tress (Japanese maple, Eastern redbud), and bulb plants.

Learn more about this cheerful shrub from our Complete Guide to Forsythia.

Witch Hazel

Another unique-looking shrub that produces yellow flowers is Hamamelis, commonly known as witch-hazel. Hamamelis are deciduous shrubs or sometimes small trees that can range in size from 3m to 12m, depending on the type. There are five main species of witch hazel: Japanese witch-hazel, Chinese witch-hazel, Ozark witch-hazel, American witch-hazel, and big-leaf witch hazel. Witch hazel trees are widely cultivated in many temperate regions around the world. In general, these shrubs produce fragrant yellow blooms that appear on the naked branches from mid-winter to early spring. Over the warm seasons, the witch-hazel is covered in green leaves that turn yellow and drop in fall.

Witch-hazel trees are sun lovers, but won’t mind partial shade, and can grow in a wide range of soil types, from moist soils to loamy or sandy. They can even tolerate nutrient-poor soil, clay soil, rocky and gravelly soil, and even various pH. They are great flowering shrubs for borders, woodland gardens, and cottage gardens. They are quite resistant to most pests and diseases and are not attractive to deer.

There are many varieties of witch hazel that you can choose from, but some of our favourites include ‘Goldcrest’, ‘Crimson Gold’, ‘Superba’, ‘Autumn Embers’, ‘Lombart’s Weeping’, and ‘Sandra’. You can grow witch-hazel alongside other trees such as river birch, American sycamore, willow oak, oakleaf hydrangea, and mountain witch alder.

You can learn more about this unique-looking shrub from our Complete Guide to Witch Hazel.

Mahonia

Here is another great example of an evergreen shrub that is easy to grow and that produces showy yellow flowers. The clusters of flowers appear in late winter and spring, so you can have a nice view of your garden during the cold winter months. The blooms of the Mahonia are followed by colourful fruits that attract birds. It is important to mention that the foliage of this shrub is really interesting as it is somewhat prickly, so make sure you plant this tree within a safe distance from walkways to avoid accidents. A great thing about mahonia shrubs is their resistance to pests and diseases. They are not attractive to deer, so you can use them as borders.

The ideal growth environment for mahonia shrubs consists of well-drained soil and partial shade. This shrub prefers shade and is not a huge fan of the scorching sun, so make sure to plant it in a place where it can get some protection in the afternoon. It might be best to plant it in full shade, rather than full sun. You can plant mahonia shrubs alongside hostas, hydrangeas, hellebores, carex, Pieris, Japanese maples, witch hazel, and Persian violets.

In Conclusion

A garden filled with yellow flowers is a garden filled with joy. You can’t go wrong by growing any of the plants mentioned above. If you want to transform your outdoor area into a sunny and cheerful place, all you have to do is pick a few of our favourite low-maintenance shrubs and flowering plants. You can make your combination of spring-flowering bulbs, summer-flowering perennials, and winter-flowering shrubs to make sure that your garden is filled with attractive blooms throughout the year.

Are you a fan of yellow flowers? Let us know which ones you enjoy growing and if there is anything that should be added to our list!