This list includes 22 Plants that start with Y, from “Yarrow” to “Yucca”. These entries cover hardy ornamentals, succulents and ecological species used in gardens and landscapes.
Plants that start with Y are common garden and wild species whose common names begin with the letter Y. Yarrow, a notable example, has long been used in traditional medicine and lawn-friendly plantings.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, USDA zones, Type, and Links.
Common name: The widely used English name for each plant, helping you recognize species in gardens and seed catalogs.
Scientific name: The Latin binomial gives precise identification so you can match plants across regions and sources.
USDA zones: Provide hardiness ranges so you can quickly check whether a species likely survives your area’s winter climate.
Type: A short label (tree, shrub, perennial, succulent) that helps you choose plants for specific garden roles.
Links: Direct links to species pages and resources so you can read cultivation notes and authoritative details.
Plants that start with Y
| Name | Scientific name | Type | USDA zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yarrow | Achillea millefolium | perennial | 3–9 |
| Yellow poplar | Liriodendron tulipifera | tree | 4–9 |
| Yellow flag iris | Iris pseudacorus | aquatic | 4–9 |
| Yellowwood | Cladrastis kentukea | tree | 5–8 |
| Ylang-ylang | Cananga odorata | tree | n/a |
| Yellow jasmine | Gelsemium sempervirens | vine | 7–9 |
| Yellow elder | Tecoma stans | shrub | 9–11 |
| Yaupon holly | Ilex vomitoria | shrub | 7–10 |
| Yellow dock | Rumex crispus | herb | 3–9 |
| Yellow lupin | Lupinus luteus | annual | n/a |
| Yellow bedstraw | Galium verum | herb | 3–8 |
| Yellow archangel | Lamium galeobdolon | perennial | 4–8 |
| Yellowroot | Xanthorhiza simplicissima | shrub | 4–8 |
| Yellow cedar | Callitropsis nootkatensis | tree | 5–7 |
| Yellow waterlily | Nymphaea mexicana | aquatic | 7–10 |
| Yucca | Yucca filamentosa | perennial | 4–9 |
| Yew | Taxus baccata | tree | 5–8 |
| Yellow mustard | Sinapis alba | annual | n/a |
| Yellow loosestrife | Lysimachia punctata | perennial | 4–8 |
| Yellow birch | Betula alleghaniensis | tree | 3–6 |
| Yellow mignonette | Reseda lutea | herb | 5–9 |
| Yellow hawkweed | Hieracium caespitosum | herb | 3–8 |
Descriptions
Yarrow
Feathery, fern-like foliage with flat clusters of white to pink flowers; widespread native in temperate regions, good for pollinators and low-maintenance borders.
Yellow poplar
Tall, fast-growing native with distinctive tulip-shaped yellow-green flowers and lobed leaves; valued for shade and timber in eastern North America.
Yellow flag iris
Bold, sword-like leaves and bright yellow flowers along pond edges and wetlands; vigorous, naturalizing species often used in water gardens.
Yellowwood
Graceful small to medium tree with fragrant white pea-like flowers in spring and smooth gray bark; prized as an ornamental in temperate gardens.
Ylang-ylang
Tropical evergreen tree known for long, fragrant yellow flowers used in perfumes and essential oils; needs warm, humid climates.
Yellow jasmine
Evergreen twining vine with fragrant yellow tubular flowers in spring; popular ornamental for trellises and good in southern landscapes (note: all parts are toxic).
Yellow elder
Showy clusters of golden trumpet flowers on a drought-tolerant shrub or small tree; loved in warm climates for long blooming periods.
Yaupon holly
Evergreen native holly with small glossy leaves and red berries; used in hedges and landscaping, drought- and salt-tolerant.
Yellow dock
Tough biennial/perennial weed with curly leaves and tall seed stalks; roots and leaves used historically in herbal remedies.
Yellow lupin
Bright yellow pea-like flowers on spiky racemes; grown as an ornamental and green manure, prefers well-drained soils and full sun.
Yellow bedstraw
Low-growing perennial with masses of tiny yellow flowers; used as groundcover and historically in cheesemaking and bedding.
Yellow archangel
Shade-tolerant groundcover with variegated leaves and yellow hooded flowers; useful under trees but can be invasive.
Yellowroot
Slow-growing native shrub with yellow inner bark and small clusters of brownish flowers; good for shaded woodland gardens and erosion control.
Yellow cedar
Also called Nootka cypress; slow-growing conifer with durable timber and peeling orange bark, native to cool coastal forests.
Yellow waterlily
Floating leaves and fragrant yellow cup-shaped flowers; makes a striking pond specimen in warm temperate to subtropical climates.
Yucca
Rosette-forming evergreen with sword-like leaves and tall spikes of white bell flowers; drought-tolerant, great for dry, sunny sites.
Yew
Dense evergreen conifer with soft needles and red arils; widely used for hedging and topiary but highly toxic if ingested.
Yellow mustard
Fast-growing annual with bright yellow flowers; seeds are the source of common mustard condiments and it’s used as a cover crop.
Yellow loosestrife
Clumping perennial with golden star-like flowers; good for borders and moist soil but can spread aggressively.
Yellow birch
Deciduous native with golden-bronze peeling bark and fine-textured leaves; valued for shade and quality timber in cool climates.
Yellow mignonette
Fragrant spikes of small yellow-green flowers; an old-fashioned garden plant traditionally used for scent and small cottage borders.
Yellow hawkweed
Low perennial or short-lived herb with dandelion-like yellow flowers; common in meadows and disturbed sites, often spreads by seed.