The Best Yellow Perennial Flowers for a Cheerful Garden

yellow perennial flowers

Yellow Perennial Flowers

 

Updated 2/18/24

If you're seeking to infuse your garden with a burst of sunshine, consider adding yellow perennial flowers.

These delightful blooms offer a wide variety of options to suit any garden style.

In this guide, we'll showcase 15 outstanding yellow perennials, perfect for brightening up your outdoor space and providing long-lasting beauty.

The items listed are accompanied by affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if a purchase is made through my links. This has no impact on the cost to the consumer. I link to products this way whenever possible, and it has no bearing on the products I choose to review or recommend.

Table of Contents Hide

    15 Yellow Perennial Flowers To Add to Your Garden


    1 Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

     
    yellow perennial flowers
     

    Bringing some Southern charm to yards and gardens around the country, Black-eyed Susans are yellow perennial flowers with striking black eyes that are sure to please.

    Their name alone makes one smile - it even has a cheerful rhythm in addition to connotations of summer warmth and sunshine.

    Not an overly showy flower, they instead provide a subtle yet long-lasting hue throughout the year. They attract butterflies and other pollinators and can survive in light shade or full sunlight - adding bonus points to their already perfect score!

    Sure, they're easy on the eyes, but they're also easy to take care of! This hardy flower loves well-draining soil that tends toward slightly acidic and neutral.

    It grows from two to three feet in height and one to two feet in width; when combining different varieties you can create an entire quilt of wildflowers for your garden! It’s able to survive both hot and dry climates as well.

    Isn’t it nice to have a flowering plant that looks great but is so easygoing?

    2 Yellow Daylily (Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus)

     
    yellow perennial flower
     

    A yellow daylily is a showstopper for sure! This yellow perennial flower is an absolute must-have for your flower garden.

    It has the simplest of blooms, but looks remarkable with its yellow petals surrounding an orange-tinted center - it's almost too beautiful to be real!

    Daylilies have been called “the perfect perennial” because they are low maintenance and forgiving to even the most novice gardener. They require little care and bloom in late spring through early summer.

    Its blooms last for one day each, providing an ever-changing display of yellow throughout the season.

    With a little TLC and some afternoon sun, yellow daylilies are sure to make your garden look wonderful!

    RELATED: 10 Pink Daylilies to Plant in Your Garden

    3 Yellow Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)

     
    yellow perennial flowers
     

    When it comes to yellow perennials, the Shasta Daisy refuses to be outdone.

    An old-fashioned favorite that has delighted gardeners since its introduction, the Shasta is a hardy plant with yellow ray florets around a yellow center, reminiscent of a classic daisy flower.

    Though its yellow cheer fades in the winter, Shasta daisies come right back with a bang when spring arrives. Growing up to two and a half feet tall and lasting through much of summer, they make wonderful cut flowers that brighten any room—or table setting. 

    Growing best in full sun, these sunny yellow blooms can also tolerate partial shade and they'll thank you for supplying moist but well-drained soil so they thrive and produce beautiful yellow flowers from late spring to early fall.

    To maximize their display you will need to deadhead frequently, which may seem like work at first, but trust us - the results are worth it.

     

    4 Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

     
    yellow perennial flowers
     

    Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a yellow-flowered perennial herb that has been used and admired for centuries. Engaging both gardeners and herbalists alike, it's no surprise that this plant continues to remain a popular choice in gardens around the world.

    In fact, its prevalence even earned it the nickname of "the soldier's woundwort," as soldiers would carry Yarrow with them during the war as an effective salve for wounds.

    Growing best in dry, sunny spots, these yellow blossoms draw plenty of attention with their clustered blooms - often with colors ranging from yellow to pink and white. But this long-lived plant requires very little attention; just some occasional trimming when needed and occasional watering will keep it looking its best.

    Whether you're interested in curing battle wounds or just dressing up your garden with some bright, cheerful yellow blooms, Yarrow is sure to delight!

    RELATED: 10 Best medicinal herbs for the garden

    5 Tickseed (Coreopsis species)

     
    yellow perennial flowers
     

    Tickseed is an amusing little plant that lures you in with its small yellow perennial flowers. Towering atop lush green stalks, these flower buds can reach up to 24 inches in height - a remarkable feat considering their petite size!

    The petals are also fringed in delight, offering an interesting texture for your ever-growing wildflower garden. Their cheery heads - at varying sizes depending on species- attract bustling bees, eager to get their fill of sweet nectar. 

    With plenty of sun and well-drained soil, Tickseed will provide colorful blooms from spring through summer to really bring your garden alive!

    And if that's not enough, it's easy to maintain. With just a little love - a regular 'deadheading' helps keep those blooms popping!

    6 Yellow Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa)

     
    yellow perennial flowers
     

    If you're looking to make your garden extra cheerful and colorful, the yellow coneflower is just what you need!

    This vibrant native American flower stands out among its peers with its stunning warm yellow petals that drape gracefully over a central dark brown cone. Boasting lush deep green foliage, and slender leaves, this striking yellow perennial plant will bring a vibrant and captivating atmosphere to your outdoor surroundings.

    Plus it's tough enough to withstand almost any weather or soil conditions - just give it plenty of sunshine and watch as pollinators come humming...well buzzing by!

    And once fall arrives, these plants serve as a much-needed haven for birds looking for sustenance from their dried cones; providing beauty all year round!

    RELATED: 25 Stunning Pink Perennials to Enhance Your Garden

     

    7 Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)

     
    yellow perennial flowers
     

    The Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a yellow perennial flower that loves to bask in the sun. Native to North America, its yellow blossoms open around sunset - hence its name - and stay illuminated for several hours until early morning.

    Growing conditions for this beauty are about as simple as it gets: plenty of full sunlight, warm temperatures, and moist, well-draining soil.

    Just give it a little love and attention and you'll be able to enjoy its fragrance and beautiful yellow glow throughout the summer months with minimal effort on your part!

    8 Poker Plants/Torch Lily (Kniphofia)

     
    yellow perennial flowers
     

    Looking to add a little bit of fire and flare into your garden? Torch lilies, or Kniphofia are the perfect way to turn up the heat!

    These yellow perennials bloom with stunning spikes in bright reds and oranges, yellow and green, that practically look like they could light up any flowerbed. Just make sure you plant them somewhere sunny where their soil can get plenty of drainage - so no puddles here, please!

    If given lots of love from sunshine and water once a week, these blazing beauties will be looking good all season long.

     
     

    9 Giant Sunflower (Helianthus giganteus)

     
    yellow perennial flowers
     

    The Giant Sunflower, known scientifically as Helianthus giganteus, is a perennial that puts on quite a spectacle!

    Standing tall with a showy display of light yellow flowers sitting atop purple stems, this perennial can grow an impressive 12 feet so if you're looking for the “wow” factor in your garden, this is the plant for you.

    The small yellow flower-heads don't ask for much in terms of growing conditions either; sunny spots and moist well-drained soil are all that's needed!

    Plant some Giant Sunflowers and admire your amazing blooms every summer – it could even complement your existing perennial border nicely.

    10 Golden Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha)

     
    yellow perennial flowers
     

    Small yellow perennial flowers make an appearance each spring with the Golden Columbine!

    If you're looking for a pop of color in the shady part of your garden, this is the flower for you.

    Native to the Southwestern United States, these delicate little blooms graciously sprinkle their beauty from March through May.

    They don't need direct sunlight either, in fact, they enjoy being sheltered from its heat and can happily do with a little bit of shade.

    You won't find sunny days cozier than when these 2-3 ft tall flowers are blossoming and buzzing with visiting pollinators coming to sip the deliciously sweet nectar.

    Furthermore, the Golden Columbine is also host to the Columbine Duskywing butterfly – which can give your garden another element of enchanting charm!

    11 ‘Yellow Starlet’ Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum)

     
    yellow perennial flowers
     

    The yellow starlet Chrysanthemum is a perennial with a yellow hue that catches your attention like a burst of sunshine. Showy spoon-shaped petals adorn yellow flowers boasting bright yellow centers.

    This yellow beauty ensures your late summer/early fall garden will be full of stunning yellow color that's sure to draw all the admiration and compliments.

    The best part? Chrysanthemums don't require much maintenance, and they thrive in well-drained soils, prefer full sun, and will give you an abundant display of yellow blooms if given plenty of water during dry periods.

    So spread some sunshine around and add a burst of yellow to your flower bed with the yellow starlet Chrysanthemum!

    12 Shrubby St John’s Wort (Hypericum prolificum)

     
    yellow perennial flowers
     

    If you're looking to light up your garden with yellow flowers, then look no further - 'Shrubby St John’s Wort (Hypericum prolificum) is just the perennial plant for it.

    Not only does its yellow blooms attract attention and bring the bees a-buzzing, but it's also a hardy choice that won't crumple at the sight of deer or rabbits.

    It can tolerate varying soil conditions and graciously adjust to any type of sun level, so everyone will be able to enjoy this bright beauty in their garden.

    13 Forsythia

     
    yellow perennial flowers
     

    Forsythia is a yellow perennial that brightens up any garden with its happy presence.

    This cheery flower brings blooms in the early spring, giving us hope for warmer days to come! It thrives in sunny spots and well-drained soil but can tolerate some shade as well.

    Forsythia grows well as a boundary line or is used as a hedge along a walkway - to bring bursts of yellow joy each year!

    Forsythia plants are also deciduous shrubs that tend to lose their foliage each winter, only to regrow colorful new foliage each year - another charm of these yellow wonders!

    However, when given the right conditions, Forsythia is an undemanding plant with a vibrant yellow hue that will live happily for years and even outlast you!


    14 Tulip (Tulipa spp.)

     
    yellow perennial flowers
     

    Tulips are yellow spring flowers that danced their way into people's hearts centuries ago. Just when the winter sun starts to peek through, these cheerful beauties are literally popping up out of the ground.

    Although they may look delicate and sunny, they are actually cold hardy, and perfect for colder climates - nothing a little snow or freezing temperatures can't handle!

    Once planted, their hardiness ensures you'll have colorful blooms again each year.

    15 Daffodils (Narcissus spp.)

     
    yellow perennial flowers
     

    If you are looking to add instant sunshine and pops of yellow to your garden, look no further than the delightful daffodil.

    Varieties of this flower can be found in shades from yellow and white, to orange and yellow-green.

    Daffodils are by far one of the most popular spring flowering plants in the amaryllis family, having stood the test of time for centuries.

    When planted correctly in sunny areas with plenty of soil drainage but not too dry, these yellow spring flowers will burst into bloom year after year!

    While some varieties are able to tolerate more shade than others, it's best to plant daffodils near a sunny spot or south-facing wall to ensure they flower at their very best!

     
    yellow perennial flowers

    FAQS About Yellow Perennials

    What yellow perennials bloom in the fall?

    Chrysanthemums, Black Eyed Susans, and Shrubby St John’s Wort are yellow perennials that bloom in the fall.

    What yellow perennials bloom in early spring?

    Forsythia, Golden Columbine, and Tulips are yellow perennials that bloom in early spring. Daffodils also burst into bloom at the same time, offering a wide range of shades from yellow to orange-yellow.

    What yellow perennials bloom in summer?

    Tickseed, Coneflower, Sunflower, and Shasta Daisies are all yellow perennials that bloom in summer. They offer a cheerful splash of color to any garden, regardless of the season!

     

    Summing Up Yellow Perennial Flowers

    These 15 yellow perennial flowers can help add a little sunshine to your garden every year – no matter what time of the year it is!

    From Forsythia to Tickseed, these beloved blooms will surely offer a pop of yellow color to any outdoor space.

    We hope this guide has been helpful in your search for the perfect yellow perennial flower!

    Have fun choosing which ones to add to your garden and enjoy their cheerful presence each season!

    Kelly Keating

    Hey there, meet Kelly Keating - a passionate gardener who loves to share her experiences and tips with the world. Her blog posts on Gardener Basics are packed with valuable insights on how to care for your garden, regardless of whether you're new to gardening or an old hand. Want to learn more about Kelly's journey in gardening and her published work in top gardening publications like Today, Homes & Gardens, House Digest, Daily Express, and Ferry-Morse. Check out her full bio!


    Previous
    Previous

    Fabric Grow Bags: The Ultimate Guide

    Next
    Next

    Uncovering the Causes of Peony Leaves Curling