Have you ever looked skyward to see a break in the clouds with sunlight streaming through, then followed that beam to find its golden light bathing a spot in your garden? Sunlight makes plants shimmer and shine, and a sunlit garden all dewy and fresh brightens any day.
A patch of yellow flowers or foliage acts like a permanent spot of sunshine: it draws the eye while warming and illuminating a quiet corner. After sundown, pale yellow flowers don't vanish into shadows; they linger in twilight and glow by moonlight.
Almost any color—green, red, orange, blue—combines well with yellow. Blue and yellow are a classic pairing. If you've heard the old aphorism "yellow with pink will always stink," ignore it and give the combo a try. In spring especially, it's as cheerful as a picket fence skirted with primroses. Add soft blue, white, and green foliage for a palette that sparkles with the freshness of a new season. (Remove yellow from that mix and the pastels would fall flat.)
This month, nurseries throughout the West are showcasing plants whose yellow flowers or foliage can brighten your garden in spring, summer, fall, or winter. There's still time to plant before summer heat sets in. As the plants grow, you can bask in your own spot of sunshine.
21 Sunshine Plants
Thousands of great plants have yellow flowers or foliage. Here are 21 favorites—but don't limit yourself; half the fun is making your own discoveries!
Flowers
- Asteriscus maritimus (Gold Coin) – Perennial. Tough, reliable, loaded with yellow flowers over a long summer season. 1 ft tall, spreads to 4 ft. Full sun. Zones 9, 15–24.
- Coreopsis grandiflora – Perennial. Bright yellow blooms all summer. Very tough and drought resistant. 'Sunburst' and 'Early Sunrise' have large semidouble blooms. 1–2 ft tall. Full sun. Zones 2–24, H1–H2.
- Coreopsis verticillata – Perennial. Prolific summer bloomer. 'Moonbeam' has pale yellow flowers; 'Zagreb' has golden yellow. 2½–3 ft tall. Full sun. Zones 1–24.
- Crocosmia 'Solfatare' – Corm. Bronze bladelike leaves, pale orange-yellow flowers on spikes. 2 ft tall. Full sun to partial shade. Zones 4–24.
- Crown Imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) – Bulb. Startling spire of bell-shaped flowers in mid- to late spring. 3½–4 ft tall. Full sun or light shade. Zones 1–7, 14–17.
- Daylily (Hemerocallis) – Perennial. Long summer bloom. Many yellow varieties like 'Buttered Popcorn' and 'Jen Melon'. Tiny 'Stella d'Oro' stars at border fronts. 1–6 ft tall. Full sun to light shade. All zones.
- Fernleaf Yarrow (Achillea filipendulina) – Perennial. Mid- to late summer bloom. 'Gold Plate' and 'Coronation Gold' have richest yellow. 3–5 ft tall. Sun. Zones 1–24, A1–A3.
- Goldenrod (Solidago) – Perennial. Large plumes of gold in midsummer. Happy in lean soil. 1–3+ ft tall. Full sun to light shade. Zones 1–11, 14–23.
- Helianthus multiflorus – Perennial. Rich yellow 3-inch flowers from midsummer to frost, good for cutting. Clumps to 5 ft. Full sun. Zones 1–24.
- Jerusalem Sage (Phlomis fruticosa) – Shrubby perennial. Holds yellow flowers long in mid- to late summer. To 4 ft. Full sun, tolerates light shade. Zones 3b–24.
- Kangaroo Paws (Anigozanthos flavidus) – Evergreen perennial. Blooms late spring to fall if spent spikes cut. Grassy leaves 3 ft, spikes to 5 ft. Full sun. Zones 15–24.
- Lantana (L. montevidensis) – Evergreen shrub grown as annual in cold climates. Blooms all summer. 'Sunburst', 'Spreading Sunshine', 'Gold Rush' are strong yellows. Spreads 3–6 ft. Full sun. Zones 8–10, 12–24, H1–H2.
- Ligularia stenocephala 'The Rocket' – Perennial. Robust 5+ ft flower spike in early summer. Best with afternoon shade. Zones 1–9, 14–17, A2–A3.
- Moneywort, Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea') – Perennial ground cover. Golden carpet with runners to 2 ft. Best in strong indirect light (direct sun scorches). Zones 1–9, 14–24.
- Strawflower (Helichrysum bracteatum) – Summer annual. Yellow varieties: 'Cockatoo', 'Dargan Hill Monarch', 'Diamond Head'. Gray-green foliage. Flowers dry beautifully. 2–3 ft tall. Full sun. All zones.
- Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) – Annual. Range of sunny colors from pale yellow to mahogany. 2–10 ft tall. Full sun. All zones.
Foliage
- Acorus gramineus 'Ogon' – Grassy perennial. Bright yellow foliage until frost. Boggy soil okay. 10 inches tall. Full sun. Zones 3b–10, 14–24.
- Carex elata 'Aurea' ('Bowles Golden') – Sedge. Bright yellow foliage all year. 2 ft tall. Sun or partial shade. Zones 2–9, 14–24.
- Golden Oregano (Origanum vulgare 'Aureum') – Bright golden spring foliage turns green by late summer. ~1 ft tall. Full sun to part shade. Zones 1–24.
- Golden Sage (Salvia officinalis 'Icterina') – Perennial herb. To 2½ ft. Full sun. Zones 2–24, H1–H2.
- New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax 'Yellow Wave') – Big, bold perennial. Swordlike leaves to 5 ft. Full sun or light shade. Zones 7–9, 14–24, H1–H2 (regrows after freezes in zones 5–6).
