To help you choose the right yellow flowers for your garden, bouquet, or arrangement, we’ve put together a list of 50 popular types. You’ll also learn the meaning behind yellow flowers.
Are you thinking of adding yellow flowers to your garden? Maybe you are looking to gift yellow flowers to a loved one. After all, yellow is such a happy color. It is the color of sunshine and happiness.
But did you know that there are actually many different types of yellow flowers? And yellow flowers can have different meanings based on the flower type or culture.
General Meaning of Yellow Flowers
Flowers have always played a big role in communication. People send flowers to send messages to each other. Each flower had its own meaning, and yellow flowers are no exception.
Western Culture: Happiness and joy.
Mexico: The yellow rose specifically means death in Mexican culture. Marigolds, which are also yellow, are abundant during the Day of the Dead.
Ancient Maya: Abundance; Yellow flowers reminded its people of the abundance of corn they had.
China & Thailand: Wealth and success.
Japan: Courage and inner strength. Yellow flowers make a great gift to show friends your support during tough moments in life.
France: Yellow roses specifically had a negative connotation of jealousy, infidelity, and the end of a relationship.
Since yellow roses lack the same fragrance as other colored roses, it was thought they would experience feelings of envy over the other flowers (if human).
Victorian Era: Unrequited love. Yellow flowers were used to politely express rejection.
Types of Yellow Flowers & Their Meanings
Hoping to convey a specific message with your flowers? Here are some popular yellow flowers and what they symbolize.
Begonia
A yellow begonia conveys appreciation towards the giftee, hope, and friendship.
Black-Eyed Susan
Black-Eyed Susans represent friendship, happiness, and resilience. Consider giving these flowers to a friend who is struggling and needs encouragement.
Carnation
Funny enough, yellow carnations are supposed to symbolize rejection and disappointment. Still, they are often gifted for Mother’s Day.
Chrysanthemum
A yellow chrysanthemum signifies loss and sorrow. In some Western European cultures, these flowers are used in mourning the death of a loved one.
Daffodil
Yellow daffodils represent joy and prosperity.
Dahlia
Yellow dahlias symbolize an innocent childlike joy.
Goldenrod
Goldenrods represent positivity, warmth, and hope.
Hyacinth
Like the yellow carnation, the yellow hyacinth has a not-so-happy meaning. These flowers symbolize jealousy.
Iris
The yellow iris represents passion.
Lotus
The yellow lotus is symbolic of spiritual ascension.
Marigold
People generally view marigolds as a symbol of happiness. However, in Mexico, it represents death.
Orchid
Yellow orchids are great for wishing someone well.
Pansy
The yellow pansy means optimism, good thoughts, and happiness.
Peony
A yellow peony symbolizes new beginnings.
Primrose
The yellow primrose means youthful optimism or renewal.
Sunflower
Sunflowers represent intelligence, loyalty, adoration, and happiness.
Tansy
Yellow tansy represents resistance, protection, and good health on the positive side. Negatively, these flowers represent war and immortality.
Tulip
The yellow tulip used to have the negative meanings of jealousy and unrequited love. Now, they are usually associated with happiness.
Waterlily
The yellow waterlily means rebirth.
Yarrow
Yarrows symbolize love and healing.
Zinnia
Yellow zinnias remind people of family and daily remembrance.
Names of Yellow Flowers
Here are some stunningly beautiful yellow flowers you should consider gifting or planting in your garden.
Lemon Queen Sunflower
Botanical Name: Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Fall
Height: 5 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Sunlight: Full
Water: Well-Drained
Marigold
Botanical Name: Tagetes
Type: Annual
Bloom Time: Late Spring
Height: 0.5-4 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 2-11
Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water: Well-Drained
Molly the Witch
Botanical Name: Paeonia mlokosewitschii
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Summer
Height: 2-3 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 5-8
Sunlight: Full
Water: Well-Drained
Gopher Plant
Botanical Name: Euphorbia rigida
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Spring
Height: 2 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 7-11
Sunlight: Full
Water: Well-Drained
Miss Mason
Botanical Name: Doronicum
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Mid to Late Spring
Height: 2 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Sunlight: Partial Shade
Water: Moist Soil
Butter and Sugar
Botanical Name: ‘Iris’ Butter and Sugar’
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Summer
Height: 3 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Sunlight: Full Sun
Water: Moist Soil
Garden Treasure (Tree Peony)
Botanical Name: Paeonia (Intersectional hybrid) x ‘Garden Treasure’
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Mid-Spring
Height: 2-3 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Sunlight: Full to Partial Shade
Water: Well-Drained
Claire de Lune
Botanical Name: Paeonia ‘Claire De Lune’
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Summer
Height: 2-3 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 2-8
Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water: Well-Drained
Gainsborough
Botanical Name: Verbascum ‘Gainsborough’
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Semievergreen
Height: 2-4 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Sunlight: Full Sun
Water: Well-Drained
Wolfsbane
Botanical Name: Aconitum lycoctonum subsp. vulparia
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Summer
Height: 3-4 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 5-8
Sunlight: Partial Shade
Water: Well-Drained
Gold Plate
Botanical Name: Achillea filipendulina
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Summer
Height: 4 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Sunlight: Full Sun
Water: Well-Drained
Garden Loosestrife
Botanical Name: Lysimachia punctata
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Summer
Height: 2-2.5 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Sunlight: Full Sun
Water: Moist Soil
Great Yellow Gentian
Botanical Name: Gentiana lutea
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Summer
Height: 3-4 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 7-8
Sunlight: Full Sun
Water: Well-Drained
Green Flutter
Botanical Name: Hemerocallis ‘Green Flutter’
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Semievergreen
Height: 2 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 3-9
Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water: Well-Drained
Canadian Border Patrol
Botanical Name: Hemerocallis ‘Canadian Border Patrol’
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Summer
Height: 2 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 2-9
Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water: Well-Drained
Sneezeweed
Botanical Name: Helenium ‘Butterpat’
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Late Summer to Early Fall
Height: 3 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone:
Sunlight: Full Sun
Water: Well-Drained
Brown-Eyed Susan
Botanical Name: Rudbeckia triloba
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Mid Summer to Early Fall
Height: 2-5 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water: Well-Drained
Goldilocks
Botanical Name: Galatella linosyris
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Late Summer to Fall
Height: 2 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Sunlight: Partial Shade
Water: Well-Drained
Pheasant’s Eye
Botanical Name: Adonis vernalis
Type:
Bloom Time: Perennial
Height: 9-12 inches
Plant Hardiness Zone: 4-7
Sunlight: Full Sun
Water: Well-Drained
Oriental Leopard’s Bane
Botanical Name: Doronicum orientale ‘Magnificum’
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Spring to Summer
Height: 18 inches
Plant Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Sunlight: Full Sun
Water: Well-Drained
Sunflower
Botanical Name: Helianthus
Type: Annual/Perennial
Bloom Time: Fall
Height: 2-3 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 3-10
Sunlight: Full Sun
Water: Well-Drained
RELATED: If you love sunflowers, there is a good chance you also love brown flowers. Check out these gorgeous types of brown flowers!
Tulips
Botanical Name: Tulipa sylvestris
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Mid to Late Spring
Height: 1-2 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Sunlight: Full Sun
Water: Well-Drained
Petunia
Botanical Name: Supertunia Limoncello Petunia
Type: Annual
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Fall
Height: 0.5-1 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 10-11
Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water: Well-Drained
Calla Lily
Botanical Name: Zantedeschia
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Midsummer to Early Fall
Height: 2-3 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 8-10
Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water: Moist, Well-Drained
Mecardonia
Botanical Name: Mecardonia hybrid
Type: Annual
Bloom Time: Summer
Height: 2-5 inches
Plant Hardiness Zone: 10-11
Sunlight: Full Sun
Water: Well-Drained
Lantana
Botanical Name: Lantana spp.
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Fall
Height: 2-6 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 9-11
Sunlight: Full Sun
Water: Well-Drained
Dutch Hyacinth
Botanical Name: Hyacinthus orientalis
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Spring
Height: 0.5-1 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water: Well-Drained
Ranunculus
Botanical Name: Ranunculus
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Spring
Height: 0.5-1.5 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 8-11
Sunlight: Full Sun
Water: Well-Drained
Bulbine
Botanical Name: Bulbine frutescens
Type: Perennial
Bloom Time: Late Spring to Early Fall
Height: 2 ft
Plant Hardiness Zone: 9-11
Sunlight: Full Sun
Water: Well-Drained
Final Thoughts
No matter what type of gardening you enjoy, adding some yellow flowers to your garden is a great way to add some brightness and cheer. And, with so many different types of yellow flowers to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect one for your garden. So get out there and start planting!
