10 Ground Covers With Yellow Flowers

Yellow is one of nature’s most cheerful colors, making your garden look like a splash of sunshine. Whether you seek a burst of color or something subtler, there are all kinds of great ground covers out there that provide a cheerfully beautiful backdrop to your outdoor space. So let’s start the sunshine party and explore some of the best ground covers with yellow flowers.

1. Yellow alyssum (Aurinia saxatilis)

Also known as basket-of-gold (which tells you exactly why everyone loves it!) or golden tuft, this herbaceous perennial is a bright and cheerful ground cover that will provide a vibrant backdrop to your garden.

You don’t need to be a pro gardener to look after yellow alyssum. It requires very little maintenance – in fact, it’s an ideal pick if you’re short on time. It can handle extreme heat, dry conditions, full sun, and dappled shade. It’s also pretty unfussy when it comes to soil: It can thrive in just about any type, and you won’t need to fertilize too much. 

However, heavy clay or moist soils with bad drainage should be avoided.

Yellow alyssum blooms from April to May, decorating your garden with a mass of small, lemon-yellow flowers. They might not smell like roses, but yellow alyssum still makes an impressive sight! Give them a light trim now and then to keep them looking their best.

General characteristics:

• USDA hardiness zones: 3a – 7b
• Recommended propagation strategy: Division, seed
• Spread: Via seed
• ​​Duration: Herbaceous perennial
• Mature size: 2 to 6 inches tall
• Sun exposure: Full sun
• Soil type: Sandy, well-drained soil
• Application: Borders, beds, rockeries, containers
• Bloom time: Early-Mid Spring
• Maintenance: Try to avoid soggy soil; occasional trimming keeps it looking its best; plant new plants in early spring or late winter for seeds

Yellow alyssum seed options:
– CHUXAY GARDEN – Golden Alyssum Yellow Flowers
– Hazzard – Aurinia Saxatilis Gold Rush
– Toyensnow – Alyssum Yellow Basket of Gold

2. Hardy yellow ice plant (Delosperma nubigenum)

Some might call this little one a ‘tough cookie’ of the ground cover world. It’s an extremely low-maintenance succulent that’s got a huge fan base because of its cheerful daisy-like blooms. It’s a real trooper, thriving with very little maintenance and in almost any situation.

What’s not to love? Hardy yellow ice plant will bring your garden to life with its vibrant yellow hue and cheerful blooms. It’s great for adding a pop of color to rock gardens, border fronts, and container gardens. Generally, it grows to around 3 inches tall and spreads up to 18 inches wide. It blooms fully from late spring to early summer, then recovers quickly after a dry spell, making it a reliable and trustworthy ground cover in drier climates.

Its evergreen foliage will even stay that beautiful crisp green during cooler winters. To propagate it, simply break off small sections of the stem, and they should root easily.

General characteristics:

• USDA hardiness zones: 4a – 9b
• Recommended propagation strategy: Cuttings, division, seed
• Spread: Via seed
• ​​Duration: Perennial
• Mature size: 3 inches tall
• Sun exposure: Full sun
• Soil type: Well-drained, sandy, sandy loam, gravelly soils
• Application: Rock gardens, border fronts, container gardens
• Bloom time: Late spring to early summer (April to June)
• Maintenance: Low; occasional trimming to encourage growth; remove dead flowers to encourage more blooms

Hardy yellow ice plant seed options:
– Hirt’s Gardens – Golden Wonder Ice Plant
– Seedville – Gelato Yellow Ice Plant

3. Barren strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides)

The “barren” strawberry is anything but barren! This native North American ground cover is a lively rhizomatous perennial with evergreen foliage. While it looks similar to an actual strawberry, it will only offer you bright yellow flowers (and no tasty fruits). 

Word of caution: Barren strawberry is just an ornamental plant and not an actual edible one. You won’t be able to make a strawberry pie with it!

It does bloom quite extensively in the early spring to early summer months, creating a joyful display of beautiful yellow flowers. It is excellent for naturalizing areas or as an edging plant. Barren strawberry prefers medium, well-drained soils with full sun to part shade exposure and is quite resistant to deer and drought. Once established, it is a low-maintenance plant, and you don’t have to worry about pests or diseases.

This herbaceous perennial is super hardy, living in USDA hardiness zones 4a to 7b and reaching a height of 6 inches. New planting can be done through the spring season. However, watch out for slugs, as they often like to munch on it.

General characteristics:

• USDA hardiness zones: 4a – 7b
• Recommended propagation strategy: Seed
• Spread: Via rhizomes
• ​​Duration: Herbaceous perennial
• Mature size: 3 to 6 inches tall
• Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil type: Rich, medium-moisture, clay
• Application: Border, rock garden, woodland gardens
• Bloom time: April to June
• Maintenance: Low; watch out for slugs; water in dry spells

4. Spring cinquefoil (Potentilla neumanniana)

Another sly plant trying to pass itself off as a strawberry is the spring cinquefoil. It is an evergreen perennial known for its showy yellow buttercup-like flowers and the cutest green leaves that look just like strawberries! Spring cinquefoil blooms from late spring to early fall, using its cheery flowers to attract pollinators into your garden.

It may look ‘meek and mild’ with its low, mat-forming habit. But this little plant packs a punch!

Spring cinquefoil sets itself apart from most spring-flowering perennials with a cool color combination of green and yellow. Even after the flowers fade away, this herbaceous perennial will continue to grin and bear the heat of summer with its pretty evergreen foliage. Spring cinquefoil is the perfect front border for a sunny spot. You can also let it do its thing in a rock garden or path edging.

This low-maintenance plant can survive in many climates, thriving in USDA zones 4 to 8. Spring cinquefoil has no special preferences when it comes to soil type as long as the conditions are well-drained. However, heavy clay or overly moist soils should be avoided.

General characteristics:

• USDA hardiness zones: 4a – 8b
• Recommended propagation strategy: By division (in spring); Cuttings (in autumn)
• Spread: Via seeds, underground runners
• Duration: Herbaceous perennial
• Mature size: 2 to 6 inches tall
• Sun exposure: Full sun, part shade
• Soil type: Sandy, loamy, moist, well-drained
• Application: Path edging, front borders of sunny areas, rock gardens
• Bloom time: Late spring
• Maintenance: Keep soil well-drained; light trimming; depending on rainfall, you may want to water the new plants once a week during the first growing season

Spring cinquefoil seed options:
– Palm Beach Medicinal Herbs – Cinquefoil Seeds
– Everwilde Farms – Prairie Cinquefoil Native Wildflower
– CHUXAY GARDEN – Leafy Cinquefoil Lovely Yellow Flower

5. Yellow stonecrop (Sedum nuttallianum)

Sedums always manage to add a touch of class to any garden, but the yellow stonecrop, with its nodding clusters of yellow blooms, is a particularly eye-catching addition. Succulents usually make very low-maintenance plants, and yellow stonecrop is no exception. From March through August, you’ll be treated to sunny blooms framed beautifully by its bright green foliage without having to put in too much effort. 

Growing up to around four inches tall, it’ll lend an attractive, low-level finishing touch to any rockery. If you live in a hot, dry area, planting this sedum will be a piece of cake. It is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and an easy-to-care-for ground cover that thrives in most soils as long as they’re well-draining.

All it needs is good pruning after flowering to promote bushy growth. And don’t forget to give it extra protection from cold winters with a bed of straw and or plastic cover. Although it needs extra water when new, once it’s established, you won’t need to water it much. Don’t drown your yellow stonecrop, as this can cause root rot.

Pro tips:

• Cover the sedum with a bed of straw or a sheet of plastic in winter to protect it from cold temperatures.
• Keep a close eye on young plants in the first few weeks of their life and ensure they have enough water.
• Be sure to keep a good spacing between it and other plants to avoid pests and disease.

General characteristics:

• USDA hardiness zones: 4a – 9b
• Recommended propagation strategy: Cuttings, division, seed
• Spread: Via stem rooting
• Duration: Perennial, annual
• Mature size: 4 inches tall
• Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil type: Well-draining, sandy, loamy 
• Application: Rockeries, borders, container gardens
• Bloom time: Spring – summer (March through August)
• Maintenance: Low-maintenance; water sparingly

Yellow stonecrop seed options:
– Outsidepride Store – Perennial Sedum Hybridum Stonecrop Ground Cover
– CHUXAY GARDEN – Yellow Sedum Acre-Goldmoss Stonecrop
– Sedum-acre Golden Carpet

6. Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

Calling all night owls – this one’s just for you! Evening primrose has a pleasant lemon scent and is known for blooming in the evening and closing again in the morning. Growing three to five feet tall, with two-to-three-foot wide clusters of flowers, this wildflower is a great addition to any garden for an enduring splash of yellow.

Native throughout most of the northern US and Canada, evening primrose is winter hardy and can tolerate most soil types, including those that are sandy or gravelly. It is essential, though, that you keep an eye out and make sure it’s not getting too dry. Moderate moisture is key for successful primrose growth.

Thanks to its lemon-scented blooms, evening primrose attracts moths, bees, and other pollinators. It is also deer and rabbit-resistant, making it an ideal choice for any wildlife-friendly garden.

Pro tips:

• Plant evening primrose from seeds sown in early summer for best results.
• Make sure not to overwater it, as this could lead to disease and root rot.
• Pruning the flowerheads after bloom will encourage reblooming.
• Plant in well-drained soil for optimal health.

General characteristics:

• USDA hardiness zones: 4a – 9b
• Recommended propagation strategy: Seed
• Spread: By seeds
• Duration: Biennial, perennial
• Mature size: 3-5 ft tall, 2-3 ft wide
• Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil type: Good drainage, sandy soil
• Application: Beds, borders, wildflower gardens, meadows, and prairies 
• Bloom time: Early summer till early fall (June – September)
• Maintenance: Low-maintenance; moderate water is necessary

Evening primrose seed options:
– Outsidepride – Oenothera Evening Primrose Yellow Wild Flowers
– Country Creek Acres – Evening Primrose
– Dirt Goddess Super Seeds – Non GMO Evening Primrose Flower

7. Yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon) 

Also known as the ‘golden dead-nettle,’ yellow archangel is both lovely and a bit of a menace. This creeping perennial of the mint family loves part shade and presents fragrant, toothed medium-green leaves, sometimes with silver-gray variegation. But beware! It spreads by runners, quickly overtaking its growing space and competing with native plants.

*Note: Yellow archangel is on the noxious weed list in parts of the US and cannot be legally sold there. For instance, in Washington State, it is prohibited to transport, buy, sell, offer for sale, or distribute plants or plant parts (seed packets or wildflower mixes) of quarantined species, including yellow archangel. 

If you still want a few yellow archangels in your garden, you have to be careful with placement. They need to be restricted, or you’ll have a new problem on your hands. It is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant ground cover, so once it’s under control and in the perfect conditions, it’s easy to keep happy. 

These little guys get up to 15 inches tall, producing yellow tubular two-lipped flowers from April to June. To ensure strong foliage and shapely growth, prune them back to 4-6 inches. Propagation is a breeze with division or stem cuttings, and they will self-seed in the garden without much effort.

General characteristics:

• USDA hardiness zones: 4a – 9b
• Recommended propagation strategy: Division, stem cuttings
• Spread: Invasive, runners, seed
• Duration: Herbaceous perennial
• Mature size: 9 to 15 inches tall and wide
• Sun exposure: Part shade to full shade
• Soil type: Well-drained, sandy, loamy, clay
• Application: Ground cover, borders 
• Bloom time: Late spring (April-June)
• Maintenance: Low-maintenance; trim it regularly to keep its shape

8. Woolly yarrow (Achillea tomentosa)

Did you just think of a woolly mammoth? Well, although this plant’s leaves look like fur, woolly yarrow is so much more than something furry to add to your garden beds. This low-maintenance, evergreen perennial is a great addition to a sunny spot, with its yellow ray and disc flowers and its gray-green, tightly cut foliage. 

Achillea tomentosa, also known as woolly yarrow, spreads out horizontally, reaching up to 1 foot tall and around 18 inches wide. It blooms from June to mid-August, with yellow corymbs as its main attraction, complete with its deep-divided gray-green leaves. 

Deer and drought-tolerant, Achillea will happily and quickly cover dry areas or slopes and loves lean, rocky soils – as long as drainage is good. Deadheading spent blooms after flowering will encourage further blossoms.

General characteristics:

• USDA hardiness zones: 3a – 7b
• Recommended propagation strategy: Division or stem cutting
• Spread: Via seed, rhizomatous
• Duration: Perennial
• Mature size: 6-12 inches tall 
• Sun exposure: Full sun
• Soil type: Lean, dry to medium, well-draining sandy loams
• Application: Edging, small area ground cover, rock gardens
• Bloom time: Spring – summer (May to August)
• Maintenance: Low-maintenance; deadhead spent flowers

Woolly yarrow seed options:
– David’s Garden Seeds – Achillea Yarrow Gold
– Outsidepride – Achillea Tomentosa Yarrow
– Marde Ross & Company – Golden Yarrow

9. Wild ginger (Saruma henryi)

Although it’s not a true ginger, wild ginger is still an excellent choice when thinking about adding yellow to your outdoor space. This lovely native of China is a cool addition to shady spots in your garden, offering a cheerful burst of color to borders, containers, or underplanting. It can even handle a little bit of sun, as long as it isn’t too overwhelming. 

What sets wild ginger apart is its velvety, dense foliage and distinctively shaped, golden-yellow flowers, which bloom in spring and again intermittently through late summer. Growing to a height of about 10 inches at maturity, with heart-shaped leaves and a spreading habit, this beauty is an interesting addition to any garden. 

Just be sure to give it moist soil and a bit of shade to create the perfect environment for it.

Pro tips:

• Plant wild ginger in partial to full shade.
• Keep it well-watered – but not too much (to avoid root rot).
• Divide larger clumps in late fall to keep it looking healthy and vigorous.

General characteristics:

• USDA hardiness zones: 4a – 8b
• Recommended propagation strategy: Division or seed
• Spread: Via rhizomatous rootstock
• Duration: Herbaceous perennial
• Mature size: 6 to 10 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide
• Sun exposure: Part sun to part shade 
• Soil type: Moist to slightly dry, well-draining, humus-rich
• Application: Underplantings, shady borders
• Bloom time: Spring and late summer (May – September)
• Maintenance: Low-maintenance; divide larger clumps in late fall

Wild ginger seed options:
– CZ Grain – Wild Ginger
– Wild ginger

10. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)

Creeping Jenny is one of those plants that is adored by some and hated by others. On the one hand, this low-maintenance plant can be a beautiful addition to any outdoor space, with its creeping sections of delicate foliage making it perfect as a ground cover. On the other hand, it has a serious spreading habit. Once it takes root, it can quickly take over your garden if not kept in check.

But if you let it, it can provide a sun-kissed, vibrant backdrop for your annuals and perennials. This plant is native to Europe and Asia, is semi-evergreen, and grows to only a few inches in height. Its stems often branch out and root where leaf nodes contact the soil, forming an expansive mat and spreading via a slender rhizome.

While creeping Jenny doesn’t usually produce flowers, once in a while, it will put out some little yellow, cup-shaped blooms in the joints of its leaves. It grows best in moist areas but can tolerate drier conditions.

Pro tip:

• Creeping Jenny should not be planted near lawns or borders as it can spread too aggressively. 
• Plant as a turfgrass replacement only in areas where its spread can be easily managed.

General characteristics:

• USDA hardiness zones: 3a – 9b
• Recommended propagation method: Softwood cuttings or division
• Spread: Via seed and rhizomes
• Duration: Perennial
• Mature size: 2 to 4 inches tall, 12 to 18 inches wide
• Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil type: Moist, well-draining, sandy loam
• Application: Ground cover, rock walls 
• Bloom time: Occasional small yellow flowers during the summer months
• Maintenance: Low-maintenance; water during droughts

Creeping Jenny seed options:
– Pixies Gardens – Golden Creeping Jenny
– Classy Groundcovers – Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’

FAQ

Final thoughts

Adding some yellow ground cover plants to your outdoor space will certainly brighten things up. Do some research on suitable varieties for your local conditions, and with a bit of TLC, you’ll have your garden looking sunny and cheerful in no time.  

If you feel that you need some extra help, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a local gardening expert. With the right guidance and some well-chosen flowering ground covers, your outdoor oasis will look like a sunshine party.

Main Photo Credit: Artem Stepanov | Canva Pro | License

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