Just look around outside and you’ll notice that it’s mainly yellow flowers that really catch the eye. From pastel to bright yellow, the colour exudes energy and cheerfulness. Add yellow flowers to your garden for a cheerful, sunny atmosphere.
A long list
The list of yellow-flowering perennials is long, think goldenrod (Solidago), yellow coneflowers (Rudbeckia), lady’s mantle (Alchemilla) and mullein (Verbascum). You can also find yarrow (Achillea) with yellow flowers. The dainty flowers of lower-growing tickseed (Coreopsis) also fit perfectly in a yellow border, as do the large flowers of yellow peonies (Paeonia). Jerusalem sage (Phlomis) offers the bonus of a beautiful winter silhouette and evergreen foliage.
Sun or shade
All the plants listed above thrive in sunny spots. Yellow-flowering perennials that do well in partial shade include elecampane (Inula), daylily (Hemerocallis), yellow waxbells (Kirengeshoma) and the evergreen barrenwort (Epimedium). Suitable yellow-flowering plants for shade are loosestrife (Lysimachia) and leopard’s bane (Doronicum). The latter is a true all-rounder as it grows well in both sun and shade.
Colour combinations
A yellow border is the ultimate in cheerfulness and yellow is easy to combine with other colours. For example, combining it with red and orange creates a flamelike effect. Or combine the complementary colours of yellow and purple flowers. Places in the garden that get less light appear a lot less dark with yellow and white flowering plants. Even when the sun is not shining, the flowers light up.
Tip
Some species of perennials, such as yarrow, become bare in the middle after a few years. Replace it with a new plant or divide it into pieces in the spring and replant the outer parts. Your plants will retain their beauty so you can enjoy them for years!
