Yellow-Colored Sun Perennials

Crown Beard

• Growing crown beard (Verbesina helianthoides) from seeds is not a challenge, reports the Missouri Botanical Garden. This perennial grows to 3 feet in many southern and central states, producing a yellow flower by June. Locate crown beard in full sun; the soil can be dry or of medium moisture content, as long as the drainage is adequate. Crown beard colonizes rocky, open woodlands in the wild, developing frequently next to railroad tracks. Crown beard is a suitable sun perennial for wildflower meadows or cottage gardens.

American Lotus

• Employ the American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) in your ponds or water gardens. Harvest the seed head, which resembles a showerhead, for your dried flower arrangements. Full sun is a requirement for this perennial, which will survive in USDA zones 4 through 10. The dull yellow flower grows to 1 foot in diameter. Water lotus will grow in shallow water and live as long as the roots do not freeze. Grow this species in containers if you wish and then move the plants to suitable locations.

Compass Plant

• While the compass plant (Silphium laciniatum) takes time to establish and does not flower in its first year, it is worthy of use in the back of perennial borders or in naturalized areas. The compass plant grows in full sun, reaching heights up to 9 feet in USDA zones 3 through 8. Blooming during July into the end of summer, compass plants feature stems covered with stiff hairs. The yellow flowers resemble those of some sunflower species. Compass plant is a species found in the central part of the United States. Early settlers thought the leaves pointed north or south, hence the unusual name.

Wild Senna

• Clusters of yellow, pea-like flowers adorn the stems of wild senna (Senna marilandica) during July and August. Grow this plant in full sun; it withstands exposure to humidity and heat, and grows well even in clay and sandy locations. Wild senna's flowers yield a black seedpod that remains attached to the plant into winter. Native to the Southeast and Midwest, wild senna grows to 6 feet, making it suitable for use in perennial borders and wildflower gardens.