• The city of Albany is situated alongside the Hudson River.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  The state of New York has a humid continental climate with cool, snowy winters and warm, muggy, wet summers. Albany, the capital city of New York state, experiences four definite seasons. This type of weather ensures plenty of moisture for plants, which accounts for the wide assortment of perennial and annual flowers that flourish in Albany.
  
  

Snapdragons

• Snapdragons are brilliantly colored flowers.red snapdragon flower image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
  
  Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus) are a perennial flowering plant; however, in Albany, because of the climate, this plant acts as an annual. Snapdragons belong to the Scrophulariaceae family. This native Mediterranean plant starts blossoming in the early spring and continues to bud until the late fall. Snapdragons have more than 230 species and fall into three plant categories: tall, medium or dwarf, according to the University of California at Davis. This plant grows to reach heights of 6 to 36 inches, with upright green stems. The flower forms in clusters of tubular blooms with two blossoms per flower that form a jaw. The blooms sprout in hues of lavender, red, orange, pink and yellow.
  
  

Bachelor's Button

• The bachelor's button is a true blue flower.butterfly on bachelor button image by passion4nature from Fotolia.com
  
  Bachelor's button (Centaurea cyanus) is a common annual flower planted in Albany. The bachelor's button belongs to the Asteraceae family. This drought-tolerant flower is an indigenous European plant that thrives in full sun. Bachelor's button is a spring flower that begins to bloom in March and lasts until May. This annual plant develops pink, red, blue or white flowers in pastel tones. The blossoms form on multiple stems, with foliage covered in tiny hairs. The appearance of the leaves and stems of the bachelor button have a grayish-blue hue because of the follicles. Bachelor's button grows from 12 inches to 36 inches tall.
  
  

African Daisies

• African daisies add a variety of color to gardens.orange african daisy image by Jason Murillo from Fotolia.com
  
  African daisies (Arctotis sp.) are hardy annual flowers with a blooming season that begins in April and winds down in August. The African daisy is part of the Asteraceae plant family and cannot withstand cold temperatures, and so it should be sown in Albany in the spring. This plant originates in South Africa and enjoys full sun. African daisy grows to heights of 12 to 18 inches. Each flower has a 2- to 4-inch diameter with a dark center disk surrounded by oval-shaped petals. The African daisy comes in colors of white, yellow, pink, red and orange.
  
  

Eastern Red Columbine

• Eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis L.) is a hardy perennial plant that flourishes with partial shade. This flower is a native New York plant. The eastern red columbine is a member of the Ranunculaceae family. This branched wildflower grows to 2 feet tall with compound green or bluish-green leaves. The flower blossoms in the late winter during February and finishes in July. The eastern red columbine grows large, showy flowers in shades of yellow, pink and red. The blooms have a pendulous bell-shaped petal with different-colored sepals and yellow stamens.