The Complete List of Flowers That Start With Y

This list includes 32 Flowers that start with Y, from “Yarrow” to “Yulan magnolia”. These showy blooms range from hardy wildflowers to cultivated ornamentals used in gardens, bouquets and teaching.

Flowers that start with Y are a varied group of plants whose blooms attract gardeners and pollinators. Notably, yarrow has medicinal and folkloric uses across Eurasia.

Below you’ll find the table with scientific name, colors, locations and season.

Scientific name (binomial): Gives the precise Latin name so you can identify species and search authoritative resources without confusion.

Colors: Lists principal flower colors to help you choose plants for design, identification, or seasonal displays.

Locations: Shows native and widely naturalized regions so you know where each species grows best or is invasive.

Season: Notes typical flowering months or seasons, often with hemisphere differences, so you plan planting or observation times.

Flowers that start with Y

Common name	Scientific name	Colors	Locations & Season	Description
Yarrow	Achillea millefolium	white, pink, yellow	Temperate Northern Hemisphere; May–Sep (N)	Flat-topped clusters of tiny daisylike flowers; hardy garden perennial, useful in wildflower meadows and dried arrangements.
Yellow iris	Iris pseudacorus	yellow	Europe, NW Africa, W Asia; naturalized N America; May–Jul (N)	Large yellow water-side iris with sword leaves; common in wetlands and invasive in some regions.
Yellow loosestrife	Lysimachia punctata	yellow	Europe; cultivated worldwide; Jun–Aug (N)	Clumping perennial with bright yellow cup-shaped flowers on low stems; good for sunny borders and pollinators.
Yellow jessamine	Gelsemium sempervirens	yellow	SE USA; Feb–May (N)	Twining evergreen vine with fragrant yellow tubular flowers in spring; common in Southern gardens, but toxic if ingested.
Yellow jasmine	Jasminum mesnyi	yellow	China; cultivated worldwide; Feb–Apr (N)	Semi-evergreen shrub with sprays of golden trumpets; early spring bloomer used on walls and hedges.
Yellow bells	Tecoma stans	yellow, orange	Tropical Americas; naturalized in tropics; year-round/Mar–Nov (varies)	Showy trumpet clusters on a subshrub or small tree; hummingbird-attracting, drought-tolerant ornamental.
Yucca	Yucca filamentosa	white, cream	Eastern USA; cultivated worldwide; Jun–Aug (N)	Rosette-forming perennial with tall spikes of bell-shaped white flowers; architectural, drought-tolerant garden accent.
Yulan magnolia	Magnolia denudata	white	China; cultivated worldwide; Mar–Apr (N)	Fragrant, goblet-shaped early spring blooms on small tree; classic ornamental magnolia.
Ylang-ylang	Cananga odorata	yellow, greenish	SE Asia; tropics worldwide; year-round (peaks vary)	Highly fragrant star-shaped flowers used in perfumery; tropical tree prized for scent.
Yellow lady’s-slipper	Cypripedium parviflorum	yellow	North America; May–Jul (N)	Terrestrial orchid with slipper-shaped pouch; distinctive woodland wildflower, often protected locally.
Yellow bedstraw	Galium verum	yellow	Europe, Asia; naturalized N America; Jun–Aug (N)	Mat-forming perennial with clusters of tiny yellow flowers; aromatic foliage historically used in cheesemaking.
Yellow archangel	Galeobdolon luteum (syn. Lamium galeobdolon)	yellow	Europe, W Asia; Apr–Jun (N)	Shade-loving groundcover with golden hooded flowers; useful under trees but can spread aggressively.
Yellow oxeye	Buphthalmum salicifolium	yellow	Europe; Jun–Aug (N)	Daisy-like yellow blooms on upright stems; cheerful cottage-garden perennial.
Yellow gentian	Gentiana lutea	yellow	Mountains of Europe; Jun–Aug (N)	Tall alpine herb with clusters of large yellow tubular flowers; used medicinally and bitter flavoring.
Yerba santa	Eriodictyon californicum	white, pale purple	Western North America (California); Mar–Jun (N)	Aromatic shrub with woolly leaves and clusters of small bell flowers; traditional medicinal herb.
Yellow violet	Viola pubescens	yellow	Eastern North America; Apr–Jun (N)	Low-growing woodland violet with bright yellow petals; good for shade gardens and spring identification.
Yellowroot	Xanthorhiza simplicissima	yellow	Eastern North America; Apr–May (N)	Small shrub with clusters of tiny yellow flowers and yellow roots used historically as dye and medicine.
Yellow star-of-Bethlehem	Gagea lutea	yellow	Europe, W Asia; Mar–Apr (N)	Small bulbous spring flower with star-shaped yellow blooms in grassy habitats; early woodland indicator.
Yellow rocket	Barbarea vulgaris	yellow	Europe; naturalized N America; Mar–May (N)	Brassica-family spring wildflower with bright yellow racemes; often in disturbed soils, edible young shoots.
Yellow corydalis	Pseudofumaria lutea (syn. Corydalis lutea)	yellow	Southern Europe; naturalized worldwide; Apr–Oct (N)	Trailing rock-garden plant with delicate yellow tubular flowers; tolerant of dry shade.
Yellow monkeyflower	Erythranthe guttata (syn. Mimulus guttatus)	yellow	Western N America; Apr–Sep (N)	Wet-site native with bright yellow snapdragon-like blooms; common along streams and seepage areas.
Yellow water-lily	Nymphaea mexicana	yellow	Mexico, SW USA; Jun–Aug (N)	Floating plant with large yellow star-like water flowers; adds tropical look to ponds.
Yellow pitcher-plant	Sarracenia flava	yellow	SE USA (coastal plain); Mar–May (N)	Carnivorous bog plant with tubular yellow pitchers and nodding yellow hooded flowers; distinctive swamp species.
Yellow columbine	Aquilegia chrysantha	yellow	SW USA, Mexico; Apr–Jun (N)	Elegant nodding spurred flowers in desert canyons; attracts hummingbirds.
Yellow starthistle	Centaurea solstitialis	yellow	Mediterranean; invasive in N America; Jun–Aug (N)	Spiky, thistle-like yellow flower heads; invasive weed with sharp spines.
Yellow hawkweed	Pilosella caespitosa (syn. Hieracium caespitosum)	yellow	Europe; naturalized N America; Jun–Aug (N)	Mat-forming rosette with dandelion-like yellow heads; common in lawns and meadows.
Yellow azalea	Rhododendron luteum	yellow	Caucasus, Turkey; Apr–May (N)	Fragrant deciduous azalea with rich yellow trumpet flowers; good for woodland borders.
Yellow anemone	Anemone ranunculoides	yellow	Europe; Mar–Apr (N)	Low-growing spring bulbous anemone with saucer-shaped yellow flowers in woods and meadows.
Yellow flax	Linum flavum	yellow	Central & Southern Europe; May–Jun (N)	Small shrubby perennial with clear yellow five-petaled flowers; good in rock gardens.
Yellow wood-sorrel	Oxalis stricta	yellow	North America; May–Sep (N)	Tiny trifoliate leaves with bright yellow five-petaled flowers; common lawn and roadside plant.
Yellowwood	Cladrastis kentukea	white	Eastern USA; Apr–May (N)	Small ornamental tree with showy pendulous clusters of fragrant white pea-like flowers; used in specimen planting.
Yellow evening primrose	Oenothera biennis	yellow	Native to N America; Jun–Sep (N)	Biennial with tall spikes of yellow four-petaled evening-blooming flowers; attracts moths and bees.