10 Bright Yellow Perennial Flowers to Add to Your Garden
Perennials are a great addition to any garden, but yellow flowers specifically add a unique dynamic to the space. This color is versatile as it works well as a bright yellow display or mixed with other flowers, enhancing other plants in the space while improving the overall color vibrancy.
When on the subject of yellow flowers, the standard sunflower comes to mind. However, there are a plethora of flower types that adorn any garden, from bright to soft yellow, adding a pleasantness to your backyard.
“If you’ve never experienced the joy of accomplishing more than you can imagine, plant a garden.”
Robert Brault
Here I’ve narrowed down 10 excellent options for you to consider when designing your yard. These flowers don’t demand too much in terms of growth needs, and they all complement one another.
No matter how small or large your garden space is, I recommend adding these gorgeous perennial flowers.
Table of Contents
1. Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa)
This is a fun and easy choice for someone new to gardening – but seasoned pros can enjoy this very undemanding flower too! Sundrops grow in bunches, producing small round flowers that are roughly 2 inches in diameter.
These gems are a tough species of plant that do fine with minimal amounts of water and fertilizer. Their growth isn’t hindered by tough terrain or rocky soil.
Initially, you can start off with seeds, but once you have a few flowers growing, you can expand your collection by splitting up clumps and planting them separately.
| Botanical Name: | Oenothera fruticosa |
| Growth Rate: | Fast |
| Native Range: | Eastern North America |
| Hardiness Zones: | 4-8 |
| Dangers: | Poison, irritation, toxic to pets, etc. |
| Soil Needs: | Chalk, loam, sand |
| Tolerate: | Drought, rocky soil, dry soil |
| Ease of Care: | Easy |
| Diseases: | No risk of serious diseases |
| Propagation: | Seeds or flower clumps can be divided to create new plants |
| Fertilizer: | No fertilizer needed |
| Pests: | Hummingbirds |
| Blooming Period: | (long, short, none) |
| Pruning: | Light pruning before spring |
| Water needs: | Low, average |
2. Yellow Evening Primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa)
This is also known as the Missouri Primrose since it is native to the southern and central regions of America. This plant features long tubular flowers that are downward facing. It is a nocturnal plant, so its flowers bloom at night.
Keep in mind moths pollinate these plants, so you’ll want to separate them from other moth-sensitive plants.
| Botanical Name: | Oenothera macrocarpa, commonly known as the Missouri evening primrose |
| Growth Rate: | Fast-growing plant that can quickly reach its mature size, making it an ideal choice for those looking for a low-maintenance plant with quick results. |
| Native Range: | Southern and Central America, specifically the Great Plains and western states of the United States, including Missouri, Kansas, and Texas. |
| Hardiness Zones: | Zones 3-7 making it a versatile plant that can tolerate a range of temperatures and climates. |
| Dangers: | There are no major dangers associated with Oenothera macrocarpa, making it a safe choice for homes with pets or small children. |
| Soil Needs: | Prefers medium loam, sandy loam, and limestone-based soils, but it can tolerate drought, clay soil, rocky soil, and rough terrain. |
| Tolerate: | This plant is known to be quite hardy and can tolerate a range of challenging conditions such as drought, clay soil, rough terrain, and rocky soil. |
| Ease of Care: | An easy-to-care-for plant that requires little attention once established. It is a popular choice among gardeners who are looking for a low-maintenance plant |
| Diseases: | This species of evening primrose is not known to have any major disease risks, making it a healthy and long-lasting addition to any garden. |
| Propagation: | Can be propagated through seeds or stem cuttings, making it easy to reproduce and share with friends and family. |
| Fertilizer: | This plant does not require fertilizer to thrive, making it an even easier choice for those who want a low-maintenance garden. |
| Pests: | Known to attract moths, which can be considered a pest by some gardeners. However, these moths are important pollinators, so they can also be seen as beneficial. |
| Blooming Period: | The blooming period is short, with the yellow flowers appearing in the summer months and lasting only a few weeks. |
| Pruning: | Not necessary |
| Water needs: | This species of evening primrose has low water needs, making it a great choice for those looking to conserve water in their gardens. It can tolerate drought and requires little watering once established. |
3. Yellow Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa)
This plant produces large daisy-like flowers that can be 4-5 inches across. It is a tough plant that can withstand heat very well. The dark chocolate brown cone in the center of the flower makes it a unique site in any garden.
| Botanical Name: | Echinacea paradoxa |
| Growth Rate: | Fast-growing plant that can quickly reach its mature size, making it an ideal choice for those looking for a low-maintenance plant with quick results. |
| Native Range: | South and Central America, specifically regions including Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas. |
| Hardiness Zones: | 5-9 |
| Dangers: | While Echinacea paradoxa is generally considered safe, the plant can cause some irritation and toxicity in both humans and pets if ingested. It is important to handle the plant with care and keep it away from children and pets. |
| Soil Needs: | Echinacea paradoxa prefers well-draining soils, including chalk, loam, and sand. It can also tolerate clay soil and rocky soil, making it a versatile plant for a range of garden types. |
| Tolerate: | This plant is known to be quite hardy and can tolerate a range of challenging conditions, including deer, drought, clay soil, and rocky soil. |
| Ease of Care: | An easy-to-care-for plant that requires little attention once established. It is a popular choice among gardeners who are looking for a low-maintenance plant. |
| Diseases: | Not known to have any major disease risks, making it a healthy and long-lasting addition to any garden. |
| Propagation: | Can be propagated through seed, which can be harvested from the plant after the blooming period. |
| Fertilizer: | Can benefit from a balanced NPK fertilizer with a ratio of 10-10-10. However, fertilization is not necessary for the plant to thrive. |
| Pests: | Generally not susceptible to pests, making it a low-maintenance plant for gardens. |
| Blooming Period: | The Blooming period of Echinacea paradoxa is long, with the yellow flowers appearing in the summer months and lasting several weeks. The plant can also produce additional blooms later in the season. |
| Pruning: | Not necessary |
| Water needs: | This species of coneflower has low water needs, making it a great choice for those looking to conserve water in their gardens. It can tolerate drought and requires little watering once established. However, it is important to water the plant regularly during its first growing season to help establish its root system. |
4. Yellow Daylily (Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus)
This plant has small trumpet-shaped flowers that are extremely fragrant. Its bright yellow color makes it a visual treat in any setting.
This plant also has an early bloom period, usually at the end of spring and early summer, making it perfect for that transition period when not many other flowers bloom.
| Botanical Name: | Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus |
| Growth Rate: | Medium |
| Native Range: | Southern America, Europe, Asia |
| Hardiness Zones: | 3-9 |
| Dangers: | Poison, irritation, toxic to pets, etc. |
| Soil Needs: | Grows well in Ballyrobert — but can grow in any type |
| Tolerate: | Erosion, rabbits, air pollution |
| Ease of Care: | Easy |
| Diseases: | None |
| Propagation: | Seeds and stem cuttings |
| Fertilizer: | Not needed |
| Pests: | None |
| Blooming Period: | Short |
| Pruning: | Not needed |
| Water needs: | Low |
5. Golden Yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum)
This perennial can take many forms depending on how you prune it. It can be a colorful little shrub, or it can end up taking over a big empty space in your garden.
| Botanical Name: | Eriophyllum confertiflorum |
| Growth Rate: | Medium |
| Native Range: | California |
| Hardiness Zones: | 6-11 |
| Dangers: | None |
| Soil Needs: | Loam, sand |
| Tolerate: | Drought, deer, clay soil |
| Ease of Care: | Easy |
| Diseases: | None |
| Propagation: | Seeds |
| Fertilizer: | Not needed |
| Pests: | Bees, butterflies |
| Blooming Period: | (long, short, none) |
| Pruning: | Moderate — can grow quite large if left on its own |
| Water needs: | Low |
6. Golden Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha)
Being native to desert regions, this plant does very well in hot climates with plenty of light. The delicate flower is beautiful, but it does attract a lot of pests, which can be a problem for other sensitive plants in the area.
| Botanical Name: | Aquilegia chrysantha) |
| Growth Rate: | Medium |
| Native Range: | Southern states |
| Hardiness Zones: | 3-8 |
| Dangers: | None |
| Soil Needs: | Clay, loam, sand |
| Tolerate: | Deer, rabbits |
| Ease of Care: | Easy |
| Diseases: | None |
| Propagation: | Seeds |
| Fertilizer: | Not needed |
| Pests: | Bees, butterflies, aphids, mildew |
| Blooming Period: | (long, short, none) |
| Pruning: | Light pruning if densely populated in one area or if you want it to grow shorter |
| Water needs: | low |
7. Bottle Rocket (Ligularia)
This plant can grow to nearly a meter tall and has large flowers in vertical cones. This is best suited to large outdoor spaces with plenty of light and room to reach its full potential.
| Botanical Name: | Ligularia |
| Growth Rate: | Medium |
| Native Range: | China, Japan |
| Hardiness Zones: | 4-9 |
| Dangers: | Poison, irritation, toxic to pets, etc. |
| Soil Needs: | Clay, loam |
| Tolerate: | Wet soil |
| Ease of Care: | Easy |
| Diseases: | None |
| Propagation: | Seeds, division of root ball |
| Fertilizer: | Not needed |
| Pests: | Butterflies |
| Blooming Period: | Long |
| Pruning: | Necessary depending on how much growth you want |
| Water needs: | Average |
8. St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
This plant has been used extensively for medicinal purposes. It blooms in late June at roughly the time of St. John’s Feast.
| Botanical Name: | Hypericum perforatum |
| Growth Rate: | Medium |
| Native Range: | Europe, North Africa, Western Asia |
| Hardiness Zones: | 3-8 |
| Dangers: | Poison — contains hypericin in the leaves and sap |
| Soil Needs: | Clay, sand, loam |
| Tolerate: | Most soil conditions, drought |
| Ease of Care: | Average |
| Diseases: | None — but it is an invasive species |
| Propagation: | Seed or through splitting the bulb |
| Fertilizer: | None |
| Pests: | Various pollinators |
| Blooming Period: | Long |
| Pruning: | Not necessary |
| Water needs: | Average |
9. Prairie Sun (Rudbeckia hirta)
The daisy-like flower on this plant adds a lot of color as the flower has shades of yellow, orange, and mahogany.
| Botanical Name: | Rudbeckia hirta |
| Growth Rate: | Long |
| Native Range: | Midwest |
| Hardiness Zones: | 3-8 |
| Dangers: | Poison, irritation, toxic to pets, etc. |
| Soil Needs: | Clay, loam |
| Tolerate: | Clay soil, deer, drought |
| Ease of Care: | Easy |
| Diseases: | None |
| Propagation: | Seeds |
| Fertilizer: | None |
| Pests: | Butterflies, birds |
| Blooming Period: | (long, short, none) |
| Pruning: | Not needed |
| Water needs: | Low |
10. Lance-Leaved Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
These plants grow small daisy-shaped flowers with lanced leaves. They have the best impact when grown in larger colonies, adding plenty of color to the environment.
| Botanical Name: | Coreopsis lanceolata |
| Growth Rate: | Medium |
| Native Range: | Southern states |
| Hardiness Zones:- | 4-9 |
| Dangers: | Poison, irritation, toxic to pets, etc. |
| Soil Needs: | Chalk, loam, sand |
| Tolerate: | Deer, drought, rocky soil |
| Ease of Care: | Easy |
| Diseases: | None |
| Propagation: | Seeds, cuttings, divisions or separation |
| Fertilizer: | None |
| Pests: | Bees, butterflies |
| Blooming Period: | Long |
Final Thoughts
Growing these yellow flowers is easy as they are tough plants that can withstand harsh conditions.
Being perennial plants, they provide you with beautiful flowers for many years to come. However, some of these can be invasive, especially if you have delicate flowers in the area.
Some varieties are toxic, so plant them in areas that your children and pets can’t reach.
