Light up your garden with yellow: the colour of the year

The colour of 2021, Pantone ‘Illuminating’ is a warm and vibrant yellow that brings with it the promise of better times. And what better way to celebrate our hope and optimism for the future than by planning a bright new colour scheme for our precious outdoor space? 

Best used as an accent colour, it’s incredibly easy to incorporate a sunny pop of yellow into your garden. Here are 6 of Thompson & Morgan’s favourite yellow plants and flowers to brighten up the year ahead. 

Sunflower SunBelievable™ ‘Golden Girl’ (NEW)

For a flavour of the south of France, plant swathes of Sunflower SunBelievable™ ‘Golden Girl’ and enjoy a sea of yellow from June to November. With incredible flower power, this hybrid doesn’t set seed – all its energy goes into producing vast numbers of blooms.

Sunflower ‘Golden Girl’ looks great in patio containers or planted straight into borders. Pair it with Poppy ‘Amazing Grey’ for an elegant contrast.

Find all the sunflower growing tips and advice you need on our helpful hub page.

Rudbeckia hirta ‘Amarillo Gold’ (NEW)

Reminiscent of sunny summers in Florida, our new Rudbeckia hirta ‘Amarillo Gold’ is a gorgeous way to make a sub-tropical statement here in the UK. With a compact habit, short stems and large flower heads, it adds a joyful splash of sunshine wherever you plant it.

At 45cm high, ‘Amarillo Gold’ should be planted at the front of your borders. Grow with Rudbeckia ‘Cappuccino’ and Phlox Paniculata ‘Laura’ to make the yellow really sing. 

Begonia ‘Buffey’

The large, rosette-shaped blooms of Begonia ‘Buffey’ instantly transport you to a happy place. Lemony-peach flowers gently soften formal planting schemes and provide a warm glow from June until the first November frosts.

These easy to grow blossoms reach a height of 45cm, making them ideal for pots and hanging baskets. Pair with blue trailing Lobelia ‘Monsoon’ for an eye-catching display.

Cornus sericea ‘Bud’s Yellow’

Cornus sericea ‘Bud’s Yellow’ is an amazing all-rounder that becomes a positive powerhouse in the garden as summer fades. Native to North America and Canada, its bright stems add a structural yellow accent to borders all winter long.

Hardy and easy to grow, this shrub makes a great hedge or striking feature in cottage, woodland and wildlife planting schemes. For maximum impact, intersperse with other winter stems like Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ and Cornus alba ‘Sibirica.

Osteospermum ‘Serenity Sunshine Beauty’

Add a spicy shot of heat to your garden with sensational Osteospermum ‘Serenity Sunshine Beauty’. These low-maintenance, vibrant orange and gold flowers add a sizzle of colour from June until October.

Growing to a height of 25cm, plant ‘Serenity Sunshine Beauty’ at the front of sunny borders. Grow in a mixed herbaceous border along with Canna ‘Tropicanna’ and Dahlia ‘Black Beauty’.

Arum ‘Gold Label’ (NEW)

Hailing from exotic South Africa, this elegant Zantedeschia (Arum) ‘Gold Label’ delivers a burst of colour that instantly lifts your spirits and transports you to distant shores. Glossy, silver-speckled foliage frames the graceful yellow spathes which reach heights of 50cm.

Grow this beauty in pots or sunny borders, before lifting the rhizomes or bringing it into the conservatory for the winter months. Especially stunning when grouped with Arum ‘Ice Dancer’ and Arum ‘Morning Sun’.

Top tips for adding yellow highlights to your garden

• Use yellow flowers as bright, contrasting accents to brighten shady corners. Plant containers with yellow blooms and move them around the garden to fill holes and change the feel. 
• Careful block planting of yellow flowers can create a striking feature in larger spaces or entice people into more distant parts of a long garden. 
• A hanging basket planted with a bright mass of yellow flowers will provide your very own glowing ‘sun’. Begonia ‘Buffey’ is ideal. 
• Yellow works very well with purple. Plant hardy perennial Geraniums with mauve flowers next to your favourite yellow blooms. Vinca major ‘Variegata’ does it all, producing mauve flowers and variegated yellow/green trailing leaves.
• Variegated plants are a subtle way of bringing yellow into your garden. Try the grass Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’ for creamy yellow banded leaves, or go all out with the bright yellow foliage of Choisya Ternata ‘Sundance’.

We hope this article has helped and inspired you to add a bright pop of colour to your garden. If you’re looking for more tips and advice on growing summer flowering plants, visit our helpful hub page.