Names Of Trees With Yellow Flowers

Spring is a season of renewal, and nothing signals its arrival quite like the cheerful sight of yellow flowers. If you’re looking to add this sunny color to your garden, knowing the names of trees with yellow flowers is the perfect place to start. These trees bring a warmth that brightens any landscape after the gray of winter.

From small ornamental varieties to large shade providers, there’s a yellow-flowering tree for almost every space. This guide will help you choose the right one for your yard. We’ll cover popular choices, planting tips, and simple care instructions.

Let’s look at some of the best trees that produce beautiful yellow blooms. Each has its own unique character and growing requirements.

Early Spring Bloomers

These trees are often the first to flower, offering early color when it’s most appreciated.

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood (Cornus mas): This isn’t a true cherry, but a dogwood. It covers itself in tiny, delicate yellow clusters in late winter to early spring, before its leaves appear. It’s tough and adaptable, producing edible fruit later in the year.
Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia): While often grown as a shrub, it can be trained into a small tree form. Its branches erupt in a vibrant blanket of yellow flowers early in the season. It’s one of the most recognizable signs of spring in many neighborhoods.
Japanese Rose (Kerria japonica): Another shrub often trained as a small tree. It sports bright, butter-yellow, rose-like flowers in spring and sometimes repeat blooms in summer. It’s excellent for shady spots where other yellow trees might struggle.

Classic Landscape Favorites

These trees are widely loved for their reliable and spectacular displays.

Golden Chain Tree (Laburnum x watereri): This small tree is famous for its breathtaking pendulous racemes of bright yellow flowers, which can be up to a foot long. It looks like golden chains dripping from the branches in late spring. Caution: All parts of this tree are poisonous if ingested.
Yellow Magnolia (Magnolia ‘Butterflies’ or ‘Yellow Bird’): A stunning hybrid that offers the classic magnolia form in a beautiful canary or lemon-yellow hue. These bloom in early to mid-spring and make a magnificent focal point.
Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea): A native North American tree that produces fragrant, wisteria-like clusters of white flowers with a subtle yellow tint. However, its ‘Perkins Pink’ cultivar has more distinctly yellow buds. It’s a great medium-sized shade tree with beautiful fall color.

Warm Climate Wonders

If you live in a region with mild winters, these spectacular trees can thrive in your garden.

Cassia Trees (Senna species): Several cassias, like the Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula), are showstoppers. They produce massive cascades of bright yellow flowers in late spring or summer. They are best suited for frost-free areas.
Acacia (Acacia species): Many acacias, such as the Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata), are covered in fluffy, fragrant yellow pom-poms. They grow quickly and provide excellent early spring color in mediterranean and coastal climates.
Tabebuia (Handroanthus chrysotrichus): Often called the Golden Trumpet Tree, it puts on an absolutely dazzling display of golden yellow trumpet-shaped flowers in spring, usually on bare branches. It’s drought-tolerant once established and loves full sun.

Small Garden Stars

You don’t need a huge yard to enjoy yellow blooms. These compact trees are perfect for limited spaces.

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’): A small tree or large shrub that actually blooms in late winter. Its unique, spidery yellow flowers are fragrant and resilient, often pushing through snow.
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum ‘Hidcote’): Primarily a shrub, it can be pruned to a single stem to form a small tree. It’s covered in large, sunny yellow flowers throughout the summer, which is later than most spring-blooming trees.

How to Choose and Plant Your Tree

Selecting the right tree involves more than just flower color. Follow these steps to ensure success.

Step 1: Assess Your Conditions

Look at your planting site carefully. Note how many hours of direct sun it gets. Check your soil type—is it sandy, clay, or loam? Consider the mature size of the tree to ensure it won’t outgrow its space.

Step 2: Select a Healthy Specimen

When you go to the nursery, choose a tree with a strong central leader (or a good shape for multi-stem trees). Avoid trees with damaged bark, circling roots at the pot’s surface, or signs of pests. The health of the tree at purchase makes a big difference.

Step 3: Planting Correctly

Dig the Hole: Make it two to three times wider than the root ball, but only as deep as the root ball itself. Planting too deep is a common mistake.
Position the Tree: Gently place the tree in the hole, ensuring the root flare (where the trunk widens) is slightly above the surrounding soil level.
Backfill: Use the native soil you removed to backfill the hole. Gently tamp it down to remove large air pockets.
Water Deeply: Create a small soil berm around the edge to form a watering basin. Soak the entire area thoroughly to settle the soil.
Mulch: Apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch, like wood chips, around the base. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk itself to prevent rot.

Caring for Your Yellow-Flowering Trees

Proper aftercare is essential for your tree to establish and thrive for years to come.

Watering and Feeding

Consistent watering is crucial for the first two years. Water deeply once a week, allowing the soil to dry slightly between watering. After establishment, most trees are quite drought-tolerant. In early spring, you can apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to support growth and flowering, but avoid over-fertilizing.

Pruning Practices

Pruning needs vary by species. Generally, the best time to prune spring-flowering trees is right after they finish blooming. This gives them time to set buds for the next year. Always remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches first. Use clean, sharp tools to make precise cuts.

Common Pests and Problems

Keep an eye out for common issues like aphids, which can be sprayed off with a strong stream of water. Scale insects might require horticultural oil. Fungal diseases like powdery mildew can occur; ensuring good air circulation through proper pruning helps prevent them. Always identify the problem accurately before treating.

Design Ideas for Your Landscape

Think about how your new tree will fit into your overall garden design.

Focal Point: Plant a single spectacular tree, like a Yellow Magnolia or Tabebuia, as a standalone centerpiece in your front yard.
Spring Border: Underplant smaller trees, like Cornelian Cherry, with early spring bulbs such as blue scilla or white snowdrops for a beautiful contrast.
Seasonal Sequence: Pair an early bloomer like Forsythia with a late-spring tree and summer-blooming perennials for continuous color.

FAQ

What are some small yellow flowering trees?

Great small options include the Cornelian Cherry Dogwood, Witch Hazel, and tree-form St. John’s Wort. These are perfect for compact gardens or planting under utility lines.

Which tree with yellow flowers grows fastest?

Many Acacia species and some Cassias are known for their rapid growth in suitable warm climates. In temperate areas, Golden Chain Tree and Forsythia establish and grow quite quickly.

Are there any native trees with yellow flowers?

Yes! The Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) is a beautiful native to the southeastern United States. Some species of native Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) also bloom in yellow, though in fall rather than spring.

What if my tree isn’t flowering?

Several factors can cause lack of blooms: not enough sunlight, excessive nitrogen fertilizer (which promotes leaves over flowers), pruning at the wrong time (removing flower buds), or the tree simply being too young. Check its growing conditions first.

Adding a tree with yellow flowers is a wonderful way to celebrate spring. With so many choices available, you can find one that fits your climate, space, and style. The vibrant blooms will lift your spirits and make your landscape shine. Remember to plan ahead, plant properly, and provide basic care. Your reward will be many springs filled with golden color.