Now we’re well into June, and summer becomes official in just one day. And if you live in parts of the south, you’ve probably been feeling like it’s summer for some time now! Every year at this time, I take a look at my garden to determine what I need to add to it to kick it up a notch—sometimes it’s an ornamental tree or an agave variety, but this year it’s a color. More specifically, yellow. I’ve always gravitated more towards the purples and pinks, but I can think of no more sunny color than a bright, clear yellow! It’s a happy, vibrant color, and works well with most other colors in the garden.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Sunflowers: Is there a flower out there that screams “summer” louder than sunflowers? I think not! These blooms grow easily from seed as well as transplants, and there’s still time to sow some sunflower seeds right now if you haven’t already done so. Choose from a variety of heights, from a dwarf 6 inches up to a towering 6 feet! And you know the drill—the more sun, the better.

Esperanza: Appropriately nicknamed “yellow bells,” this plant grows into a large bush (5’ tall and 4’ wide if it really likes its spot) filled with tubular yellow bloom clusters. It adores full sun (a little afternoon dappled shade if you’re in a very hot climate), lots of room, and (although it’s fairly drought tolerant) regular watering.

Bulbine: Love succulents? The foliage of this plant closely resembles that of aloe vera, but it has a profusion of yellow bloom stalks. This plant does well in hot, dry areas—and beware if you live in an area of regular frost. This plant will not take to temps below 20 degrees.

Rudbeckia: Closely resembling the sunflower, rudbeckia will take the heat and sun, but will also reward you with its yellow blooms in part shade. Again, this one is drought tolerant but will appreciate some regular irrigation during the hot summer months.

Happy gardening!