10 essential spring bulbs with yellow flowers

Daffodils, the must-have spring bulbs

When you pair ‘yellow-flowering bulbs’ with ‘spring’, most gardeners will mention daffodils or jonquils (it’s the same thing!). It must be said that yellow-flowering narcissi are absolutely indispensable in gardens… for those who love yellow flowers. (For I must confess, I am one of those gardeners who hate yellow, but have a real passion for white narcissi, tinted with pastel shades). Anyway, back to our yellow narcissi…

Difficult to single out one variety, as narcissi have been hybridised over the years. Nevertheless, there is plenty of choice to vary the pleasures. To enter into the (yellow) heart of the matter, let’s start with the classic wood daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) which grows naturally in meadows and forests. To stay in the yellow single tone, one can also cite proven favourites such as the varieties ‘Tête-à-Tête’ with small lemon-yellow flowers and ‘Dutch Master’ with large, frilled golden flowers. The variety ‘Dick Wilden’ stands out for its magnificent double flowers in a bright yellow. Just like the variety ‘Yellow Cheerfulness’ which produces double flowers in a cream-yellow shade and is very fragrant.

If you want to go beyond plain yellow, a few narcissi also assert their individuality. The very floriferous variety ‘Grand Soleil d’Or’ offers flowers with a bright yellow corolla, enhanced by a small orange crown. ‘Berlin’ stands out with a beautiful flower, apple-scented, consisting of a yellow corolla and a dark-yellow cup. If you love narcissi scented with yellow flowers, you won’t be able to resist ‘Martinette’ with its bi-coloured flowering in yellow and bright orange.

Around the plain wood daffodil, the narcissi ‘Berlin’, ‘Grand Soleil d’Or’, ‘Martinette’ and ‘Golden Bells’

Finish our inventory of yellow narcissi with the atypical Narcissus bulbocodium ‘Golden Bells’ with golden-yellow funnel-shaped flowers.

Other suggestions from Angélique: 7 yellow-flowering narcissi to celebrate spring.

Crocuses, the earliest bulbs

Crocuses are the first bulbs to poke their noses through, sometimes even braving the snow! Indeed, the first flowers appear from February. And there is nothing brighter than yellow crocus flowers that speckle a dormant lawn! The master in the field is certainly ‘Mammouth Grand Jaune’ with its enormous flowers whose corolla is a brilliant golden yellow. This variety also stands out for its ability to multiply rapidly. It is ideal in a lawn, but also in a rock garden, in a border or in pots.

The Ankara crocus (Crocus ancyrensis) charms with its apparent simplicity, with flowers that have a daffodil-like look. It spreads easily in large swathes of blooms that thrive in the sun.

If you’re after a touch of originality, cast your eye on the rare and very beautiful Crocus angustifolius with its splendid yellow-orange flowers, marked with reddish-brown, slightly bronze on the outside.

Our selection of three yellow crocuses

To discover more yellow-flowered crocuses, I invite you to read Leïla’s article: Yellow-flowered crocuses: the best varieties.

The tulip, not as simple as it seems

Among the tulips, yellow is not necessarily the most common colour. That is why planting a few varieties will spark curiosity. The variety Golden Apeldoorn is a must-have with its exceptional flowers in a pure yellow, speckled with silvery shades, perched on tall stems of remarkable robustness. It is an ideal tulip for creating bright cut flower arrangements.

More original, the peony-flowered tulips Freeman with late flowering. This variety offers double ochre flowers, green-tinged on the outside of the corolla and edged with golden yellow. Conversely, the Foster tulip Yellow Purissima produces flowers that are elegant and simple, with long, broad petals blending pale yellow and canary yellow.

Finally, the lily-flowered tulip Yellow Spider also stands out with its spider-like blooms, very open during the day, in a vivid yellow.

Our selection of four yellow-flowering tulips

Go further with Virginie T. who details 7 yellow-flowered tulips.

Florist's ranunculus, elegance in its purest form

How can you resist the charm of florist’s ranunculus (Ranunculus hybrida or Ranunculus asiaticus) with their attractively double flowers and the crumpled look of their multiple petals? Flowering extends from April to June, linking spring to summer. These bulbous perennial plants prefer partial shade or sun that isn’t scorching, in rich humus-bearing soil. Hardy down to -10°C, they adapt very well to growing in pots in regions with cold winters.

Ranunculus boast warm, vibrant colours, among which yellow is particularly striking. The Asiatic double yellow ranunculus is certainly the best representative of them all, with its well-rounded, double corollas in a rich yellow. While the variety ‘Vortex F1 Lemonade’ is more understated with its lemon-yellow flowers in varying shades.

The magnificent double yellow ranunculus

For those who prefer simpler species, the lesser celandine Ranunculus ficaria ‘Flore Pleno’ will delight with its small golden-yellow double corollas.

The hyacinth also flowers yellow

Certainly, yellow is rarely associated with hyacinth, which most often declinates into various shades of white, pink and blue. Nevertheless, some varieties display a timid hint of yellow. One can thus cite ‘City of Harleem‘, which offers pretty flower spikes that are delicately scented in a soft cream-yellow. ‘Gipsy Princess’ also dons a particularly creamy yellow that is almost mouth-watering. Moreover, its flowers also emit a suave fragrance.

‘Gipsy Princess’ and ‘City of Harleem’

The Dutch iris with yellow flowers, intricately complex

Dutch irises (Iris hollandica) are also emblematic of spring. Their flowers, complex and stylised, are just as ornamental in borders as in cut flower arrangements.

Not fussy, these irises bloom from April to June in vivid colours, with white, yellow and blue predominating. If you favour Dutch irises with yellow flowering, the choice is fairly wide. For a wholly yellow look, opt for the variety ‘Golden Harvest’ with blooms in a pure, bright yellow. ‘Royal Yellow‘ is more distinctive with pure yellow flowers delicately marked with a touch of orange-yellow.

As for ‘Bronze Perfection‘, it features a harmonious blend of shades within large blooms: yellow tinged with brown, golden yellow and bronze.

Our selection of three Dutch irises with yellow flowering

Steppe lily, with yellow flowers, standing upright

The steppe lily (Eremurus) is characterised by its long, vertical flowering spikes that bloom from May to June, in full sun and in well-drained soil. Some varieties can reach 1.5 to 2 m in height. That said, these bulbous perennials are perfect as a backdrop for borders.

Besides varieties with white or orange flowers, steppe lilies are also available in yellow. Thus, Eremurus bungei produces long flowering spikes adorned with small golden-yellow star-shaped flowers. As for the variety ‘Tap Dance’, it hardly goes unnoticed with its sunny-yellow flowers tipped with orange that reach 1.5 m in height.

The steppe lily

Winter aconite, the bulb that blooms yellow in the heart of winter

Winter aconite (Eranthis) is a discreet member of this group of bulbous plants. Yet, over time, it can form large colourful carpets from late January through to March, at a time when the garden looks rather dreary. It prefers well-draned, cool, limy soils. Winter aconite, another name for helleborine, bears lemon-yellow flowers, similar to those of buttercups. Very hardy, they can even bloom through snow. This bulbous plant thrives particularly well under the canopy of deciduous trees and shrubs.

Eranthis or winter aconite

Erythronium, an unusual bulb to discover now

Little known, Erythronium is a bulbous plant that nevertheless deserves a place in the garden or in a pot. It prefers fresh, humus-bearing and light soils, and shaded situations. This very hardy bulbous plant shows a rare elegance with its graceful lantern-like flowers. Thus, the flowers of Erythronium ‘Pagoda’ resemble pendulous martagon lilies, like lanterns. They display a yellow that is both vivid and pale, washed with pale green on the underside and speckled brown at the base.

Erythronium ‘Pagoda’

Ornamental garlic to complete the yellow palette

Let’s finish our selection of yellow-flowering bulbous plants with ornamental alliums. Yellow is rare there, but I have nonetheless unearthed a few beauties: Allium moly offers flowers in a golden yellow, a colour entirely unique. Equally unique is the Allium chloranthum ‘Yellow Fantasy’ with its shaggy, wispy-looking flowers. They will no doubt bring a touch of whimsy to gardens with their bright yellow colour streaked with green.

The striking Allium chloranthum ‘Yellow Fantasy’