How to Identify Yellow Flowering Shrubs

Yellow flowering shrubs can be difficult to name because plants may look very similar and there are endless varieties of yellow flowers, making it hard to pinpoint a species. You can use the characteristics of the shrub, and especially the blossom, to identify your plant because every botanical has distinct growing habits and plant parts. With a few key details, you can use an online resource to enter you data and successfully identify your yellow flowering shrub.

Make a note of when the yellow flowers on your shrub bloom and write down your findings. Do you see these blossoms seasonally in a particular month, or do they appear just once a year? These details will help you identify whether you have a perennial or annual species.

Wait until the flowers are fully developed on the shrub and then go outside to record their details. First, write down all of the colors that the blossom has if it displays more than one yellow shade. Next, count the number of petals on the yellow flower and take notice if the petal grows in a particular shape. For example, is it long and narrow like a tubular flower, or is the blossom more of a bell shape like a campanulate? Finally, write down the growth pattern of these blossoms. For instance, do these yellow flowers grow in clusters on the branch, or do they appear as singles?

Record the other plant part features that help you identify the shrub. Write down the leaf characteristics and note whether it has a particular shape, such as spiky, and if the veins are a distinct shade. Continue to feel the leaves and determine if the surface is smooth or coarse and note whether the foliage appears transparent or not. Further, write down whether the leaves are larger or smaller than the yellow blossoms.

Write down the additional traits of the shrub that can help with your research. For example, what is the total height and width of the plant?

Use the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) site to enter your findings and identify your yellow flowering shrub. Click the "Advanced Search" link on the left side of the page and then select your location under the "Distribution" heading. Go to the "Ecology" section and indicate that you are looking for a shrub by selecting this option. Scroll down to the "Morphology/Physiology" heading to highlight your plant details including growth periods, colors, leaf characteristics and size features by selecting these options in the associated boxes. Continue selecting any additional options that are relevant to your shrub and click the "Display Results" button when finished. Look through the links on the resulting page to view images and other data that help you identify your yellow flowering shrub.