The yellow flowers commonly seen in fields are primarily rapeseed (Brassica napus), also known as oilseed rape or canola. This plant produces bright yellow flowers that cover large areas, creating striking yellow fields in spring. Rapeseed is an important crop grown for its seeds, which are crushed to produce rapeseed oil, widely used in cooking and industry. It is especially prevalent in countries like Germany, the UK, and Canada, where it has become a major agricultural crop since the 1970s
. Besides rapeseed, other yellow-flowered plants can appear in fields, including:
- Yellow rocket (Barbarea vulgaris), also called wintercress, a biennial weed with yellow flowers growing in many fields and roadsides
- Cressleaf groundsel (Packera glabella), or butterweed, a native plant with yellow aster-like flowers, common in pastures and fields, but toxic to livestock
- Wild parsnip, a biennial with yellow umbel flowers, which can cause skin irritation on contact
- Birdsfoot trefoil, a yellow-flowering forage plant with a creeping habit, beneficial for pastures
However, the dominant and most widespread yellow flower in cultivated fields is rapeseed, known for its bright yellow blooms and economic importance as an oil crop
