Yellow flowers add warmth and cheer to California gardens as the season changes. These 14 blooms stand out beautifully against autumn tones.
I’ve planted a handful in my own garden and love how they brighten cooler days. Consider adding some to create a vibrant fall display.
1. Black-Eyed Susan
These cheerful daisy-like flowers bring instant sunshine to California fall gardens. Their golden petals surrounding dark centers create dramatic contrast that catches everyone’s eye.
Hardy and drought-tolerant, they thrive in California’s varied climate zones while attracting butterflies and bees. Plant them in clusters for a meadow-like effect that’ll brighten your garden until winter.
2. Jerusalem Artichoke
Reaching impressive heights of 6-10 feet, these sunny bloomers create a dramatic backdrop in any California garden. Not actually artichokes at all, they produce edible tubers beneath the soil while displaying cheerful yellow flowers above.
California gardeners love their drought resistance and late blooming habit. Plant them along fences or as natural screens where they’ll provide both beauty and privacy through the fall months.
3. Goldenrod
Contrary to popular belief, goldenrod doesn’t cause hay fever! These fluffy plumes of sunshine add texture and movement to California fall gardens when many other plants have finished blooming.
Native varieties are especially well-suited to California’s climate and provide essential late-season nectar for pollinators. Their feathery golden sprays look stunning when backlit by the warm autumn sunlight filtering through coastal fog.
4. Coreopsis
Imagine having sunshine in bloom form throughout the fall! Coreopsis delivers exactly that with its profusion of star-shaped yellow flowers that keep going when other plants fade away.
Throughout California’s diverse growing regions, these easy-care perennials thrive with minimal attention. The daisy-like blooms dance on slender stems, creating a light, airy feeling in autumn gardens while attracting beneficial insects.
5. Blanket Flower
With fiery red centers that fade into golden yellow tips, blanket flowers bring the sunset into your garden. Their rustic, wildflower appearance fits perfectly with California’s natural landscape aesthetic.
Even in the driest parts of California, these tough beauties keep blooming through fall. The vibrant two-toned flowers create a warm color palette that complements autumn’s changing hues while providing continuous blooms until the first frost.
6. Yarrow
Flat-topped clusters of tiny yellow flowers make yarrow a unique textural element in fall gardens. The feathery foliage provides an attractive base even when the plant isn’t flowering.
California gardeners appreciate yarrow’s exceptional drought tolerance once established. Native to many parts of the state, it’s perfectly adapted to local conditions and continues blooming into fall, attracting beneficial insects that help control garden pests.
7. Mexican Sunflower
Vibrant orange-yellow blooms on tall stems create a tropical feel even as temperatures cool. Unlike common sunflowers, these keep producing new buds throughout the fall in mild California climates.
Coastal California gardens particularly benefit from their heat and fog tolerance. Hummingbirds and butterflies flock to these fiery blooms, making your garden a wildlife haven during autumn months when nectar sources become scarce.
8. California Poppy
Our beloved state flower transitions beautifully into fall with golden blooms that capture California’s essence. After summer dormancy, many poppies rebloom in autumn when cooler temperatures and occasional rainfall return.
Throughout the state’s diverse regions, these native treasures thrive with almost no care. Their silky cup-shaped flowers close at night and open with the morning sun, creating a daily display that celebrates California’s golden heritage.
9. Rudbeckia ‘Autumn Sun’
Tall, graceful stems support large blooms with drooping petals that create a distinctive silhouette in the garden. The cone-shaped centers add interesting dimension that continues even after the petals fade.
Throughout California’s diverse climate zones, these striking flowers perform beautifully in fall. Their height makes them perfect for back borders where they’ll sway gently in autumn breezes, creating movement and catching the golden California sunlight.
10. Golden Marguerite
Fern-like foliage creates a soft backdrop for the cheerful yellow daisies that bloom profusely through fall. The compact growth habit makes these perfect for garden edges or container plantings.
In California’s Mediterranean climate, these European natives feel right at home. The bright butter-yellow blooms maintain their vibrant color without fading, providing consistent color in coastal gardens where fog might mute other flowers.
11. Maximilian Sunflower
Multiple yellow blooms line tall stems, creating a dramatic vertical element perfect for back borders. Unlike their larger cousins that bloom in summer, these native sunflowers peak in fall.
Even in California’s drier inland regions, they thrive with minimal care. Their narrow leaves and multiple flower heads create a more delicate appearance than common sunflowers, bringing a prairie-like feeling to California fall gardens.
12. Lantana ‘New Gold’
Clusters of tiny tubular flowers create a carpet of gold that lasts well into fall. The heat-loving nature of lantana makes it perfect for California’s extended warm seasons.
Throughout Southern California, these spreading plants provide reliable color when other flowers fade. Butterflies can’t resist the nectar-rich blooms, turning your autumn garden into a lively habitat while the low-maintenance plants continue flowering until the first frost.
13. Yellow Bush Daisy
Masses of cheerful yellow daisies cover this compact shrub from spring through fall without pause. The evergreen foliage provides structure even when blooming slows in cooler months.
Coastal California gardens benefit from this South African native’s salt tolerance. Even novice gardeners find success with these easy-care plants that keep producing bright blooms through autumn while requiring minimal water once established.
14. Yellow Kangaroo Paw
Fuzzy yellow tubular flowers on tall stems create an exotic architectural element unlike anything else in the garden. The unusual texture adds interest to California fall landscapes when many plants are past their prime.
Throughout California’s milder regions, these Australian natives thrive in similar Mediterranean conditions. Their drought tolerance makes them perfect for water-wise gardens, while hummingbirds are drawn to the unusual blooms well into the autumn months.