Color in the Garden: Clear Yellows

This month we're considering clear yellows in the garden, using Penelope Hobhouse's book, Color in Your Garden for guidance and inspiration. In the process, we’re working on a portfolio of plants that can add yellow to our gardens here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Hobhouse distinguishes between pale yellows and clear yellows. Pale yellows are serene and restful, where clear yellows are luminous and glowing. Clear yellows are those with pure hue, easily seen by the eye, since the midrange light wave does not require the eye to refocus. The gallery includes native plants and near-natives that thrive in a Mediterranean climate, as well as some that simply illustrate the effect of using clear yellow flowers.

Spring

Tulips	California Brittlebush
Iris	Two-tone daffodils
Primrose	Violets
Mustard field (invasive)	Monkey Flower

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Clear yellows lie on the color spectrum between harsh yellow and deep orange, and the yellow-greens. Their compliments are blues, violets, and mauves. Clear yellows convey optimisms and cheer, and can be the color of spring.

Summer

Unidentified	Aster
Yellow pokers	Unidentified
Trumpets	Flannel bush

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Hobhouse recommends using yellow and gold flowers and plants as focal points in the garden, rather than as the theme of the garden. Create “pools of gold” or “spotlights of yellow”; contrast clear yellow with sober greens and restful grays, or with complementary colors in the blues, violets, and mauves.

Fall and Winter

Rose	Day lilies (three seasons)
Acacia	Mahonia

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The yellow hue can also originate from pollen tassels, variegated leaves, and pale gold and lime-green foliage. By using both yellow flowers and yellow-tinged foliage, you can have yellow in the garden across the seasons.

Foliage

Variegated leaves	Pollen tassels
More variegated leaves	Lime-green foliage
Still more variegated leaves	New growth yellow-hued ivy leaves

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To find more about yellow flowers and foliage that thrive in the San Francisco Bay Area, see Wildflowers of the East Bay Regional Park District. Another good source is Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates.