Flowers that start with Y include Yellow Bell, Yellow-Eyed Grass, Yucca, and Yarrow, to list a few. Read on to find out more details of some of the most popular flowers that begin with the letter ‘Y’. I discuss their planting requirements, care guide and much more.
8 Flowers that Start With Y
Yellow Bell
Yellow Bell or Yellow Trumpetbush is native to North, Central, and South America, growing yellow trumpet-like flowers and lance-shaped leaves. After flowering, the flowers change to long seed pods that small animals feed on.
The shrubs are hardy and tolerant of heat, drought, and cold, and they can be grown as perennials or annuals. You can plant yellow bells in rock gardens, flower beds, and pots, and they can reach a maximum height between 3 and 9 feet and a maximum width between 6 and 12 feet.
In the US, yellow bells grow in USDA zones 10 and 11, blooming in spring, summer, and fall. The plant prefers neutral to alkaline sandy or loamy soil, as long as it’s well-drained. The plant thrives in full sun exposure, and although it can grow in partial shade, these plants don’t grow as tall.
Yellow bells can grow in the desert, so they don’t need regular watering. Natural rain can be enough, and adding supplemental water will help the plant during periods of drought.
Despite the beauty of this plant, it’s considered an invasive species in Africa, parts of South America, Asia, Australia, and Florida.
Yucca
Yucca is a wide family of flowering plants that contains about 40 different species. The plants are native to the Caribbean and North America and can grow in USDA zones 9 to 11.
The flowers are usually pink or creamy white, and the height of the plant varies by variety. These flowering plants thrive in bright yet indirect sunlight, and although they can be grown indoors, they rarely flower in indoor pots.
You can grow yucca flowers in sandy soil that is neutral or acidic. Well-drained soil is essential as this plant can be easily overwatered.
To prevent rot, water your yuccas once a week during spring and summer to prepare the plant to bloom in mid-summer and early fall.
Despite being a low-maintenance plant, you should be careful about planting this flower in your garden because it’s toxic to pets.
Yellow-Eyed Grass
The yellow-eyed grass is a semi-evergreen perennial herbaceous plant native to Chile and Argentina and has grass-like leaves and small yellow or white flowers with golden centers.
There are about 250 different varieties of this plant, but most of them are suitable for growing in USDA zones 7 and 8.
In order to bloom, the plant needs full sun exposure and the flowers appear in late spring or early summer. The plant can grow in loamy or sandy soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline. Once the plant has been established, it can tolerate moderate drought.
The flowers open in the morning and close by dusk, and then turn into black seed pods, so spent flowers need to be removed regularly to avoid self-seeding.
Yellow Archangel
This plant is similar to the dead nettle plant, but it grows beautiful yellow flowers. It’s a perennial that blooms in early summer and grows perfectly in shade gardens, which makes it an excellent choice for those who don’t have much sun in their backyard.
The yellow archangel grows to a maximum height and width between 1 and 2 feet, growing yellow flowers with hues of orange and brown.
This plant can grow in sandy, loamy, or clay well-drained soil, which can be neutral, alkaline, or acidic. It’s originally native to Asia and Europe but grows in the US in USDA zones 4 to 9.
The soil needs to be consistently moist but not soggy to avoid root rot, and mature plants can survive periods of droughts as they thrive in moist to dry soil. It doesn’t need regular fertilizing, but you can add a layer of compost every spring to help it bloom faster.
Yellow Butterfly Bush
Not only does the yellow butterfly bush add a pop of color to your garden, but it does what its name implies; attracts butterflies to your garden. The plant is a perennial that dies in fall and grows back in spring.
This flower emits a strong scent that attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, creating a biodiverse environment in your backyard. It blooms in late summer, growing bright yellow flowers with orange centers and silvery foliage.
The yellow butterfly flower is native to China but grows in USDA zones 5 to 9. There are also other versions where the flowers can be pink, purple, or white.
It needs full sun exposure and grows in slightly acidic to neutral soil. Different species can grow from 3 to 12 feet tall and from 3 to 8 feet wide. It rarely needs fertilizer, as long as you’re planting it in good-quality soil and giving it room to grow.
Yellow Flag Iris
The yellow flag iris is easy to grow and maintain, adding attractive flowers to your outdoor space. The plant is native to Western Asia, Europe, and Northwest Africa, and grows beautifully in USDA zones 5 to 9, reaching a maximum height of 3 feet.
This plant has sword-like greenish-gray leaves and yellow flowers with bluish veins. Even after they turn into seed pods, the seed pods are usually used in flower arrangements.
Yellow flag irises need to grow in acidic medium to wet soil, with medium fertility. So, adding a good fertilizer will help the plant grow stronger.
These plants need wet soil, so you have to water them regularly and shouldn’t let the soil dry out. They can tolerate moderately moist soil, but in this case, the plant will grow fewer flowers.
Because it spreads fast, the yellow flag iris is considered an invasive species in several parts of North America. However, you can control this by planting the plant in containers.
Yellow flag irises can also be kept indoors, usually blooming for longer because you can control the temperature.
Yarrow
Yarrow or the common yarrow is a perennial flower that has different names like Poor Man’s Pepper, Soldier’s Woundwort, Thousand Leaf, and Plumajillo (Spanish for little feather). It’s native to North America, Asia, and Europe, growing in the US in USDA zones 3 to 9.
It’s a herbaceous flowering perennial that can be grown in flower beds or pots. It can also be grown indoors, as long as you place the container in a spot it can receive plenty of light. The flowers can grow to be white, pink, yellow, orange, purple, and red.
Yarrow doesn’t need much care once it has been planted and established, and this is why it’s commonly grown across the US in dry areas with poor quality soil. It grows to reach a maximum height of 3 feet and maximum width of 3 feet.
This flower can grow in sandy, clay, or loamy well-drained soil, and doesn’t need to be watered except in times of severe drought. As a result, it’s an excellent choice for a beginner gardener.
Nevertheless, it’s toxic to cats, dogs, and livestock, so you need to pay attention to your pets and make sure that they don’t eat this plant.
Yellow Coneflower
The yellow coneflower is native to North America, growing in USDA zones 3 to 9. Also known as the Ozark coneflower, this plant blooms in summer and fall, growing a single yellow flower from each stem.
Each flower is about 4 inches across, with drooping golden yellow petals that surround a brown central cone. When they first grow, the flowers are odorless, then as the rays start to point downwards, they begin to emit a honey-like scent to attract different pollinators.
The plant itself can grow to be between 2 and 3 feet tall and between 1 and 1.5 feet wide. It needs full sun exposure and grows in slightly alkaline well-drained soil.
These plants aren’t suited for growing in indoor pots as they need room to grow. They thrive in direct sunlight but can tolerate some shade, although the plants that don’t receive at least 8 hours of sun exposure don’t grow that much.
The yellow coneflower is drought-resistant, so it doesn’t need to be watered regularly. It doesn’t need to be fertilized, because when the soil is too fertile, this plant can be too leggy.
Wrap Up: Flowers that Start with Y
As you can tell, most of the flowers that start with Y are actually yellow. However, some other species grow different colored flowers, adding several attractive hues and shades to your outdoor or indoor garden.
Before you pick your next flower to plant, make sure that you understand how to care for it and provide it with the right type of soil, so you can enjoy the beautiful blooms.
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