40 Beautiful Types of Yellow Flowers

Types of Yellow Flowers for Spring

1. Daffodil

Arguably the most iconic yellow flowers, daffodils have always inspired poets and gardeners alike. It is also the national flower of Wales. The 6-petalled flowers come in several colors other than solid yellow, including orange, pink, and white, often combined with yellow.

They are often combined with hyacinths for how their fragrances complement each other. At the same time, a bouquet of daffodils and tulips is perfect for bringing a fresh spring vibe.

2. Tulip

Tulips are traditionally associated with Easter. However, they come in a dozen color variations; yellow remains among the most striking and popular. The flowers with 3 petals and 3 sepals are excellent for cut flowers. ‘West Point’ and ‘Golden Apeldoorn’ are well-known yellow cultivars.

Apart from daffodils, tulips go well with grape hyacinths of any color and with the delicate blooms of lily of the valley.

3. Forsythia

Named after the Scottish botanist William Forsyth, forsythia produces beautiful small 4-petal flowers covering the shrubs early in spring. The yellow shrubs are considered a symbol of spring’s arrival. Some plants in the genus have even earned the common name ‘Easter Tree.’

In flower arrangements, using forsythias with pussy willow and cherry blossoms renders a nice color contrast.

4. Yellow Iris

The Iris pseudacorus, or yellow iris, is a yellow flowering species in the Iris genus, while most other types also come in yellow cultivars. The unique flowers contrast nicely with the dark green erect leaves in mid to late spring.

5. Ranunculus

Also known as buttercups, ranunculus flowers come in almost all imaginable colors, with yellow being one of the most popular. The many-petal flowers can give roses a run for their money when it comes to cut flowers for bouquets and other arrangements.

Combining ranunculus with peonies and baby’s breath works well for a floral arrangement, with eucalyptus for adding a bit of greenery.

6. Evening Primrose

One of the most recognizable flowers in gardens worldwide, evening primroses belong to the Oenothera genus. The yellow variety is arguably the most popular. Though unsuitable for gifting in bouquets as cut flowers, their charm lies in the fact that they are one of the few yellow flowers that bloom at night.

7. Primrose

These gorgeous yellow-orange flowers work well as ground covers with their dark foliage. The plants are pretty hardy perennials in warm climates (like in various African countries), but in colder temperate regions, they grow only as annuals. Though the common names are similar, primroses belong to the Primula genus and are unrelated to the evening primroses.

8. Gazania

These gorgeous yellow-orange flowers work well as ground covers with their dark foliage. The plants are pretty hardy perennials in warm climates (like in various African countries), but in colder temperate regions, they grow only as annuals.

9. Marigold

One of the most recognized yellow flowers, marigold or calendula, comes in numerous varieties, including the wildflower field marigold and the famous garden plant pot marigold. The plants and flowers even have herbal and medicinal uses.

The flowers can be solid yellow or a combination of yellow and dark red. They are used as cut flowers in bouquets and arrangements, often with zinnias for their colors and with salvias to add a bit of height.

10. Yellow Jessamine

The state flower of South Carolina, the yellow jessamine, is also known as the Carolina jasmine. The fragrant, 5-petal, trumpet-shaped flowers start appearing in early spring. It is perfect for growing over trellises, fences, walls, and other similar structures, where its dark green leaves and bright yellow flowers create an eye-catching contrast.

11. Pansy

The great thing about pansies is that they can flower through all the seasons, starting from spring and even during winter (the winter-hardy varieties). Though these flowers are typically purple with a yellow center, all-yellow pansy cultivars are no less beautiful or popular.

The small flowers on their long, delicate stalks can last about a week in a vase, making pansies reasonably good as cut flowers.

Types of Yellow Flowers for Summer

Most flowers that bloom in late spring to summer last till fall.

1. Sunflower

The quintessential example of a yellow flower is that many people don’t even know that sunflowers can come in other colors, too. The flowers always face the sun, appearing in mid to late summer and blooming through fall.

The cheery flowers symbolize happiness and are a common choice of cut flowers in floral arrangements.

2. Black-Eyed Susan

These pretty wildflowers resemble both daisies and sunflowers. The vines are great for growing in hanging baskets or over railings and fences. They are pretty hardy and easy to grow as well.

3. Yellow Rose

Rose is one of the first to come to mind when you think about flowers. It might not be the same when you are trying to make a list of yellow flowers, but several beautiful roses come in various shades of yellow. Some even combine it with other colors, like the Tequila Sunrise cultivar with red tips.

Yellow roses with white lilies, baby’s breath, and some dark greenery are timeless for floral arrangements.

4. Gerbera Daisy

One of the most popular flowers at florists’ is gerbera daisies, which are iconic as cut flowers. They come in numerous colors, but few are as cheerful as the pure yellow variety. The flowers start appearing in late spring, continuing to bloom through summer and even into the fall.

These plants don’t do well in colder climates and can only be grown as an annual.

5. Zinnia

Another winner when it comes to flower arrangements, zinnias have their own place with the large, many-petalled flowers that come in almost all colors. They are among the most recognized cut flowers. If you are growing them at home, picking the flowers regularly will make more flowers bloom.

The bright yellow zinnias look great with purple flowers like verbena and lavender.

6. Daylily

Though yellow is not the color that comes to mind at first when thinking about daylilies, there are beautiful yellow varieties of these flowers. The tall trumpet-shaped flowers are not suitable for cut flowers as they droop after a day of blooming. But, since the plants flower profusely, you can enjoy the beautiful blooms for several weeks.

7. Chrysanthemum

These small, pretty, 5-petal flowers come in hundreds of varieties, with combinations of yellow being some of the most common. The shrubs are perfect for ground covers and borders, especially popular for rock gardens.

8. Helianthemum

These small, pretty, 5-petal flowers come in hundreds of varieties, with combinations of yellow being some of the most common. The shrubs are perfect for ground covers and borders, especially popular for rock gardens.

9. Petunia

Petunias are among the most recognizable garden plants in the United States, even though they can only be grown as annual plants in most of the country. They are heavy bloomers and do well in containers and window boxes.

10. Dahlia

Dahlias are among the first flowers you would notice and recognize at the florist’s. With beautiful huge flowers in all colors and combinations, dahlias make excellent cut flowers, often used in bouquets and decorative arrangements. Yellow dahlias can come as solid yellow flowers or with other colors, like yellow petals with a dark red center.

11. Canna Lily

With their colorful tropical flair, these unique flowers are often at the center of flower arrangements. The heat-loving perennials are often grown as annuals in the temperate and colder climates.

Canna lilies can be combined with other lilies, especially calla lilies, for a tropical arrangement,

12. Yellow Hibiscus

Hibiscus is one of those tropical flowers that immediately reminds you of a warm beach with a drink in hand. In fact, the state of Hawaii has a yellow hibiscus called maʻo hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei) as its official state flower.

The dark green shrubs, with their vibrant yellow flowers, are often grown as hedges and borders.

13. Goldenrod

A native wildflower, the name of the plant describes its long, arched flower stalks that bloom in late summer, lasting through fall. It is a perfect addition to waterside and meadow gardens.

14. Coreopsis

These bright yellow flowers have 6-12 petals and resemble daisies. Coreopsis flowers profusely in early summer and can last till frost. These make excellent cut flowers that can stay fresh for a couple of weeks.

15. Lantana

Yet another warm-season plant that’s grown as an annual, lantanas produce flowers in clusters that change color over the season. Usually starting from white, the flowers change into shades of yellow, orange, red, and pink, meaning the plant displays flowers of multiple colors at the same time.

16. Billy Buttons (Craspedia)

One of the most unique flowers on this list, billy buttons, is a little ball-shaped flower growing at the tip of long leafless stems. They are perfect for cut flowers and an even better choice for dried flowers. The plants are grown as short-lived perennials or annuals, especially in temperate climates.

17. Begonia

Yellow begonias offer a delightful pop of color to summer gardens with attractive flowers with lots of petals, creating a nice contrast with the large dark green leaves. 

The flowers are even edible with a citrus flavor and can be used for garnishing salads, drinks, and desserts.

18. Corydalis

These small tubular flowers come in various colors, including yellow, both solid and in combination with other colors. Rock harlequin is a popular variety with pink and yellow flowers. 

Corydalis, belonging to the poppy family, is a popular choice for a shade garden along with plants like fringed bleeding hearts and purple-leaved heuchera.

19. St. John’s Wort

Though not as common as a garden plant, St. John’s wort is a wildflower with small yellow flowers blooming in clusters at the top of its erect branches. The plants are actually considered a weed in most of the temperate zones, but their hardiness, adaptability, and compact growth habits also make them suitable for mass planting.

20. Bidens

Bidens have a long blooming season, from early summer to frost, producing lots of daisy-like flowers. The plants do well in containers and hanging baskets.

21. Bird of Paradise

One of the most beautiful flowers, popular both as a garden plant and cut flowers, the bird of paradise usually comes in various shades of red, white, and orange. There are 5 main species of these plants, with yellow-flowering cultivars like ‘Mandela’s Gold.’

22. Blanket Flower

A member of the sunflower family, blanket flowers are a popular choice for ground covers. In fact, their name is believed to be a reference to how well they spread and cover the ground in their grayish-green, somewhat hairy foliage.

The flowers come in various shades and combinations, with red and yellow being present in most types.

23. Coneflower

Yellow coneflowers are no less striking than their more common purple counterparts. Though the flowers may resemble daisies a little, they are still unique. They make excellent cut flowers, and there’s nothing like fresh coneflowers in a flower vase to cheer up your drawing room.

24. Calibrachoa

Similar to petunias, these are also warm-climate plants that can only be grown as an annual garden plant in most of the United States. Even in zones 9-11, they are considered short-lived tender perennials. The bell-shaped flowers have a unique white and yellow pinwheel pattern.

25. Snapdragon

It is a unique flower that resembles a dragon’s head and even ‘snaps’ open and close when squeezed from the sides. Being one of the most popular garden plants, there are lots of types and cultivars, including multiple variations of the yellow flowers.

The long flower stalks are splendid as cut flowers and are among the most common flowers stocked at a florist’s.

26. Yellow Foxglove

These bell-shaped yellow flowers bloom in clusters at the end of a long flower stalk. The flowers have brown markings or netting on the inside. 

27. Yarrow

It is a wildflower with characteristic flat yellow flowerheads that make the plant a favorite, especially in summer cottage gardens.

The plant also has some medicinal properties and is used for making herbal teas. 

Types of Yellow Flowers for Winter

1. Wintersweet

It is a deciduous shrub with small, fragrant dangling pendant flowers that cover its branches through the winter months, from November to February and March.

2. Winter Aconite

Belonging to the buttercup family, winter aconite is a cup-shaped flower that blooms late in winter, pushing through the snow, and lasting till early spring. The plant then goes dormant and returns again next winter. The European wildflower is invaluable for adding a pop of color to the otherwise drab winter landscape.