Springtime means new life everywhere…colorful bursts occur naturally everywhere, and many of us are inspired to plant flowers in our yards so we can enjoy up close and personal. Choosing the best type of flowers for your yard will depend on several things:

• The zone you live in
• The area you have to cover
• The colors you like best

The flowers below are some of the best ones to plant in the spring for blooms in late spring, early summer, and late summer as well. Some will even bloom again in the early fall’s cooler temperatures.

Peruvian lilies come in vibrant shades of yellow, orange and shades of purple with characteristic dark speckles of lilies down the petals. These plants are between 2 and 3 feet tall and will flower until the soil gets too hot. To keep them blooming, snap off the shoots just at the base.

Similar in many ways to lavender, catmint is a beautiful plant that grows to about 1 foot tall that bloom in lush, lavender-blue spikes from the late spring to the early summer. The plant’s greenery itself is showy, too, with a silvery tone. This plant makes a great boarder for a pathway or a hedge even when it stops blooming.

Coneflowers are eye-catching because of their unique color and shape. The large, pronounced center is a rusty color and is surrounded by contrasting dark pink, almost purple, delicate petals. Each flower is up to 4 inches in diameter. There are also hybrid varieties of coneflowers, such as the Orange Meadowbrite, Sunrise, and Sundown, which have rich yellow, orange or red tones.

Pansies are classic cool-weather flowers. For blooms in the coldest early spring temperatures, consider the pansy. Pansies come in many different colors, making them a great option if you want to mix different colors of the same variety or if you’d rather use them for contrast with different flowers. They do well planted in the ground, in containers or in window boxes since they are low, bushy plants.

For the brightest white flower, your best bet is the Snowdrop Anemone. The pure white petals stand out against the plant’s lush, dark greenery. This plant does well in full sun or shade, and it gives off a strong fragrant aroma. Another advantage of planting Snowdrop Anemone in the spring is that you may see it bloom again when fall rolls around.

Speaking of fragrant flowers, we can’t ignore Lilac. In addition to its intoxicating smell, lilac flowers have a wildflower feel to them that is perfect for cottages and backyard retreats. Lilacs come in small dwarf shrubs up to tree varieties which can grow up to 20 feet tall, and several sizes in between. Lilacs love full sun, and they show off a soft purple, spiky bloom.

Irises make a statement because of their tall stature – up to 34 inches – and their well-known petal shape – some upright petals surrounded by drooping petals in complementary shades. These flowers love sun, too, and they are an excellent choice for just about any flower garden because of the wide array of colors they can be. You’ll see iris flowers in late spring to early summer.