10 Plants That Start With Y

Last Updated on February 13, 2023 by Derek

Today, we’ll be continuing our A-Z plant index with the letter Y. Read on to learn some of the most common plants beginning with the letter Y, including their appearance, growing conditions, and more. 

There are around 391,000 species of plants on the planet. Some are big, and some are small. Some are poisonous, colorful, dull, hardy, and even weak. 

Whether you’re a plant connoisseur or a green-fingered beginner, you’ll know there’s something for everyone. Whether you prefer the vibrant and bold or want to grow indoors rather than outdoors, there’s certainly no shortage of species to choose from. 

List of plants that begin with Y

1. Yucca
2. Yellow coneflower
3. Yellow bell
4. Yellow poinciana
5. Yew
6. Yellow birch
7. Yarrow
8. Yaupon holly
9. Yautia
10. Yellow iris
11. Yerba mate

Video – the Yew Tree is sacred – and poisonous!

Plants beginning with Y – Trees that start with Y

Yucca plant

The humble Yucca has between forty and fifty species. This genus of perennial shrubs is known for its sword-like leaves, whitish flowers, and flushes of evergreen. The Yucca is native to the United States.

Most Yucca plants tend to grow outdoors. However, there are a few species that can thrive inside the home. The Yucca grows no higher than two meters, and they grow best in well-drained compost, with direct sunlight and attentive watering. 

If your Yucca is inadequately positioned and fails to get enough sunlight, it will grow thinner and slower. Although the Yucca is known for its evergreen shades, its foliage can also boast a blue or green appearance, with white or pink features. 

Yucca

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Yucca	Yucca spp.	5.5 – 7.5	Well-draining, rocky	Full sun	4-11

American Yucca Society

Yellow Coneflower

The Yellow Coneflower, also known as the Echinacea Paradoxa, is the only species of Echinacea to feature yellow flowers instead of purple ones. 

This vibrant, golden-yellow perennial is native to the United States and tends to grow no taller than 90cm. The yellow coneflower boasts a beautiful skirt of wide, droopy petals and a large, copper-colored center. 

The Yellow Coneflower prefers light shade or full sun and does well in dry to medium drained soils. These plants are also an excellent choice for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds, so they’d so well in a border surrounded by other vibrant plants. 

Yellow Coneflower

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Yellow Coneflower	Echinacea purpurea	6.0 – 7.5	Well-draining	Full sun	3-9

USDA

Yarrow plant

The Yarrow is a herbaceous perennial that blooms between June and October. Thanks to their low-maintenance nature, Yarrow plants are a popular choice for beginner planters. These plants can survive in low light or partial sun and do equally well in full sunlight. 

Old Farmer’s Almanac

There are many species of Yarrow, and you can expect to find this plant in meadows, grasslands, and lawns. It’s native to Australia and produces an abundance of colors, from white and yellow, to red, gold, and orange. Its green-leafed stems can reach between 18-24 inches tall at maturity. 

Yarrow Plant

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Yarrow	Achillea millefolium	6.0 – 7.0	Well-draining, dry to average	Full sun to partial shade	3-9

Yellow Bell Plant

Yellow Bell (or Tecoma Stans) is a fast-growing perennial shrub native to south-central Texas, Arizona, Central America, South America, and even Argentina. 

The Yellow Bell is relatively easy to grow. By nature, its heat and drought tolerant; however, it can be damaged by frost. These plants do best when planted in the fall, to give them to establish a strong root system before the summer heat sets in. 

These plants are usually irregularly shaped and can stand as high as three to six feet tall. Some varieties can grow as tall as nine feet. Their trumpet-shaped flowers dangle daintily against their dark green leaves, and their vibrancy makes them an excellent addition to any garden border. 

The Yellow Bell is also a favorite for pollinators like bees and butterflies, making them a great addition to your yard or garden if you’re looking to attract more wildlife. 

Yellow Bell Plant

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Yellow Bell Plant	Tecoma stans	6.0 – 7.5	Well-draining	Full sun	9-11

Royal Horticultural Society

Yellow Poinciana Tree

The Yellow Poinciana (Peltophorum Dubium) is native to Australia and Malaysia. These fast-growing evergreen trees can grow as tall as 50 feet and 2530 feet wide. 

Its fragrant, feathery leaves have a green-winged appearance, and its golden shower of yellow blooms make it stand out from the crowd. This popular ornamental tree is grown worldwide, and it does best in full sun with regular watering. 

The yellow poinciana is easy to grow, as it can withstand most well-drained soils and attracts few pests. This tree would be ideal for lawns, sidewalks, or a centerpiece in a generously sized yard. 

Yellow Poinciana Tree

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Yellow Poinciana Tree	Delonix regia	6.0 – 7.5	Well-draining, moist	Full sun	10-12

The Tree Center

Yew Tree

The Yew tree (Taxus Baccata) is most commonly found in Southern England. The yew tree’s leaves, seeds, and bark can be poisonous to people and livestock. For this reason, many yew trees are planted in graveyards, away from the general public and animals. 

The Yew tree is one of the longest-living species in Europe, and it can grow up to 20 meters. Its bark boasts a blend of red, brown, and purple tones, and its needle-like leaves grow in rows along its branches. 

The Yew tree’s leaves are small, straight, and dark green, with a green-grey tone on the underside. The Yew is dioecious,  meaning that its male and female flowers grow on separate trees. Males flowers have a modest white-yellow structure, and female flowers sport a scaly appearance, maturing to resemble acorns with age. 

Yew Tree

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Yew Tree	Taxus baccata	5.0 – 7.0	Well-draining	Full sun to partial shade	4-7

Woodland Trust

Although Yew trees can be poisonous, they’re incredibly dense, making them an ideal shelter and protection for many birds. Small mammals and birds also feast on their fruit. While Yew trees have strong associations with doom and gloom, they’re an essential tree for many animals across Southern England. 

Yellow Birch Tree

Yellow Birch (scientific name Betula Alleghaniensis) is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 99 feet high. The Yellow Birch is native to the northeast of North America, and it grows best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers well-drained, sandy, or alkaline soil. 

The Yellow Birch is drenched in dramatic coloring and has an impressive 150-300 years old lifespan. The Yellow Birch is characterized by its tiny yellow blossoms, which turn golden yellow in the fall. Its bark is a deep brown and yellow when young, turning deep brown with maturity. 

This tree has a large and unusually shaped canopy, making growing the Yellow Birch difficult. It will do best when planted somewhere with enough space to sprawl outwards, uncrowded by other competing trees. 

Yaupon Holly

The Yaupon, otherwise called Yaupon Holly or Ilex Vomitoria, is a type of holly that’s native to the southeast of North America. 

Yaupon has a moderate growth rate; however, in its youth, it grows quickly. Yaupon can reach as tall as two to three feet in just one year, with the growth rate gradually plateauing shortly after. 

Yaupon is characterized by a smooth trunk, stems, and small, dark green leaves. The berries of the Yaupon can be red, yellow, or orange, depending on the species and month. The Yaupon is dioecious, which means its male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Male yaupons do not produce berries. 

Yaupon can reach anywhere between 12-45ft high, and its picturesque, shrubby upright appearance looks stunning against winter landscapes. Yaupon can tolerate most soils, although it prefers sand and a slightly acidic to neutral soil. 

Yaupon Holly

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Yaupon Holly	Ilex vomitoria	5.0 – 7.0	Well-draining	Full sun to partial shade	7-9

NC State University

Yellow Iris Flower

The Yellow Iris, also called the ‘Yellow Flag’ or ‘Iris Pseudacorus, ’ often grows in woodland, ponds, waterways, and fens and is native to Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa. 

The Yellow Iris grows between 40-100cm high and blooms between May and August. These bold little plants add a healthy dose of color to most wet woods and ponds, and their yellow petals boast a notable ‘droop.’ 

The stems of the yellow iris are tall and often branched. Its leaves are narrow and long, and its petals tend to fold back on themselves, hanging tenderly to the edges of the flower. The Yellow Iris prefers boggy, heavy and moist soil, and it needs sun or light shade to thrive. 

Yellow Iris Flower

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Yellow Iris Flower	Iris pseudacorus	6.0 – 7.0	Well-draining	Full sun to partial shade	4-9

Yerba Mate

The Yerba Mate (or Ilex Paraguariensis) is an evergreen tree native to South America. It often grows in the subtropical regions, and it’s a member of the holly family. This evergreen tree prefers slightly acidic soil, but it’s pretty hardy and can tolerate a variety of conditions. 

The Yerba Mate can grow up to ten meters high, and its thick, dark leaves are nestled between small, white flowers which blossom between late fall and early winter. As the season’s progress, you can expect to see small red berries appear on the tree, which produce the seeds. 

Although the Yerba Mate grows best outdoors, it can be planted indoors in pots. However, this plant is best suited to warm, humid regions that receive a healthy dose of rainfall. If you’re in a cold or dry climate, the Yerba Mate may not be suited to your garden or yard. 

Yerba Mate

Common Name	Botanical Name	Soil pH Range	Soil Type	Sunshine	Growing Zones
Yerba Mate	Ilex paraguariensis	5.5 – 6.5	Well-draining, moist	Full sun to partial shade	8-10

Yerba Mate

Flowers that start with Y

Is there a flower that starts with Y?

1. Yellow wild indigo (Baptisia sphaerocarpa)
2. Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon)
3. Yellow daylily (Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus)
   Yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon)
4. Yellow pitcher plant (Sarracenia flava)
   Yellow wax bells
   Yellow coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa)
   Yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Are Plant Names In Latin? 

Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus developed the species system used for naming plants. Assigning each plant a unique Latin name based on this system makes it easier to distinguish species. 

Can You Prune A Yellow Birch Tree? 

Most yellow birch trees should be pruned in late summer or early fall. This will minimize the flow of sap while the area heals. 

What Kind Of Soil Does A Yucca Plant Need? 

Yucca plants are prone to disease and rot. Yucca plants do best in well-draining soil that won’t become water-saturated. Mixing your soil with sand or perlite is often the best environment for Yucca plants.