Impatiens

Fundamental Facts

HARDINESS: Tender
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Adaptable
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Filtered shade
ATTRIBUTES: Compact, mounded plants; white, pink, purple, or red flowers; for shady beds or pots
SEASON OF INTEREST: Summer, early fall
FAVORITES: All varieties are good, so select by color; New Guinea hybrids are sun tolerant, deer resistant
QUIRKS: Needs moist soil; touch-me-not flings its seeds
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Ajuga, ferns, foxglove, lady's mantle
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Shade, filtered or partial sun
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Aphids, whiteflies
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Good, New Guinea impatiens are excellent
SOURCE: Bedding plants, seeds, cuttings
DIMENSIONS: 1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m) high, 2 ft (0.6 m) wide

Impatiens in the Landscape

Impatiens seem to glow in low-light situations, brightening such spaces with panache and profuse flowers. Also known as busy Lizzie, sultana, or patience plant, impatiens bloom with unabashed energy. Flower colors number beyond 20 and include white, pink, lavender, salmon, and cherry. There are also varieties with contrasting edges, bull's-eye blotches, festive streaks, or swirls of more than one color enhancing their open-faced petals. Double-flowered impatiens, such as Rosette mix and 'Rose Parade', boast petal-packed flowers.

Pastel impatiens in particular light up shade like no other flowers. Where shallow-rooted trees are close by, build up a shallow bed of organically rich soil for planting impatiens so they won't compete for moisture. Mass them for a sea of color or mix them with shade-loving perennials such as ajuga, hosta, and astilbe.

Beyond Busy Lizzies

Although the bedding-plant type of impatiens is by far the most popular, other impatiens also have a following In Victorian times, balsam, or touch-me-not (Impatiens balsamina), were all the rage for their vertical, pointed-leaved spikes with a treasure trove of snapdragon-like blossoms and seed-pods that pop open, flinging their seeds when touched. Self-seeding balsam is a care-free annual for naturalizing in moist shade. Far larger and showier are New Guinea hybrids, with flowers of white, pink, red, blue, purple, and orange amid shiny dark green leaves that often have golden variegation. New Guinea hybrid impatiens tolerate more sun than regular impatiens, and deer detest them.

Increasing the Bounty

Bedding plants sold in spring often show a blossom or two, making it easy to choose the desired colors. But it's easy to grow your own seedlings. Four weeks before the last frost date, scatter the fine seeds on top of moist seed-starting soil. Press seeds into the soil so that they remain exposed to light. Keep the soil moist and at 75°F (24°C) until seedlings have several sets of mature leaves. Impatiens will stop growing in cold soil, so wait until 2 weeks after your last frost to move them into the garden.

Growing Impatiens

Impatiens need fertile, moisture-retaining soil, and container-grown plants in particular benefit from regular fertilizing. To encourage nonstop flowering, fertilize containers every 2 to 3 weeks with any balanced plant food. In beds, a single application of a controlled-release fertilizer after planting is usually sufficient. To propagate more of your favorites, simply root 4 in (10.2 cm) long stem cuttings in water and plant them when they have roots.

While usually trouble free, aphids or whiteflies sometimes attack impatiens. Either pest can be combated by squirting the plants with a strong stream of water from the hose.