How to Grow and Care for Impatiens -- Garden Chronicle

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Impatiens are a favorite, old-fashioned garden plant that has been updated by plant breeders to include neon colors and colorful foliage.

There are about 850 Impatiens species including annuals, perennials, and subshrubs. All have brittle, succulent stems, fleshy leaves, and spurred asymmetrical flowers. Each flower has five petals; the lower two petals are fused together or form a lobed pair. Flowers can be single or double.

Balsam, Impatiens balsamina, is a summer annual with pink, red, lilac, and white flowers that resemble miniature double camellias. Balsam grows from 10 to 30 inches (25-76cm) tall.

Busy Lizzie, Imptiens walleriana, is a tender perennial usually grown as an annual. It brings bright color to shade gardens—flowers are red, pink, rose, violet, orange, white, and bi-colors. Dwarfs are 4 to 8 inches (10-20cm) tall; full-size varieties grow to 2 feet (61cm) tall.

New Guinea hybrids are bred from species from New Guinea. Flower colors include red, orange, pink, lavender, and purple; leaves are often striped with red or yellow. Plants grow 8 to 24 inches (20-61cm) tall. New Guineas are a colorful choice for pots.

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Busy Lizzie, Impatiens walleriana — Busy Lizzie, *Impatiens walleriana*

Table of Contents

Get to know Impatiens

Plant type: Annual, perennial in warmest regions
Growing Zones and range: Annual in Zones 2-11; grow as a perennial in Zones 10-11
Hardiness: Easily killed by frost; tolerant of heat
Height and width: 6 to 18 inches (15-45cm) tall and wide and taller, depending on the variety.
Foliage: Brittle, almost succulent stems, and lush, fleshy, semi-translucent leaves
Flowers: Single or double blossoms from 1 to 3 inches (2.5-7.6cm) wide.
Flower colors: brightly colored white, peach, pink, rose, red, fuchsia, lilac, or orange; some flowers are bi-colored
Bloom time: Spring through fall frost
Uses: Shade garden, containers, hanging baskets
Common name: Impatiens
Botanical name: Impatiens and hybrids—see below
Family: Balsaminaceae
Origin: Damp habitats throughout tropical and warm temperate regions

Himalayan Balsam, Impatiens glandulifera — Himalayan Balsam, *Impatiens glandulifera*

Where to plant Impatiens

Plant impatiens in light shade in Zones 2-5. Plant in deep shade in hot-summer regions in Zones 6-11.
Grow impatiens in humus-rich, well-drained soil.
Impatiens prefer a soil pH of 6.5 to 7.5.

Impatiens uses

Impatiens provide mounds of bright color in shady beds and borders.
Use Impatiens as edging in shaded borders.

When to plant Impatiens

Set impatiens in the garden in spring when all danger of frost has passed.
Start seed indoors 8 to 12 weeks before the last frost in cold winter areas; start seed any time of the year in frost-free regions.
Sow seed outdoors when the soil has warmed and the danger of frost has passed.
Set plant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.

Planting and spacing Impatiens

Sow seeds indoors in small pots, six-packs, or flats; barely cover seeds with potting mix.
Seeds germinate in 7 to 21 days at 65° to 75°F (18°-24°C). Germinate seeds under bright light.
Set plants outdoors in their permanent place after all danger of frost has passed. Harden off plants before setting them in the garden.
Space impatiens 6 to 12 inches (15-30cm) apart; best planted in groups of a dozen or more.
Naturalize impatiens by spreading seed in early spring; afterward, plants will propagate themselves.

How to water and feed Impatiens

Keep impatiens well-watered; keep the soil evenly moist.
Fertilize impatiens at planting time and then occasionally, about every 6 weeks with a slow-release fertilizer.

Busy Lizzie pink flower, Impatiens walleriana — Busy Lizzie pink flower, *Impatiens walleriana*

Impatiens care

Mulch around impatiens with aged compost to conserve soil moisture.
In Zones 10-11 grow impatiens as a perennial; cut back by two-thirds or more in spring to promote new growth.
Pinch back the central once to stimulate side branches and bushy growth.

Growing Impatiens as a houseplant

Impateins wallerana, busy Lizzie, can be grown as a houseplant.
Grow Impatiens where the temperature is average, light is direct to bright and humidity is average to high.
Grow Impatiens in a rich, well-drained, soilless medium, and keep the medium evenly moist while the plants are flowering.
Allow the medium to dry out slightly between waterings in fall and winter.
Fertilize monthly from spring through fall.
Pinch back growing tips regularly to keep the plant compact.

Impatiens pests and diseases

Impatiens can be attacked by aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites.
Leaf spot, wilt, and root rot can occur.

Impatiens propagation

Start seeds indoors in early spring 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date in a shallow layer of vermiculite. The seed does not need to be covered. Set plants out when the weather warms.
Seeds germinate in 10 to 20 days at 75° to 78°F (24°-26°C).
Ripe seeds can be collected each summer; store seeds in a paper envelope.
Take stem cuttings about 6 inches (15cm) long and root them in a moist potting mix or in a glass of water on a bright windowsill. New plants will root in about 3 weeks in warm weather.

New Guinea impatiens in summer garden. — New Guinea impatiens in the summer garden.

Impatiens varieties to grow

There are hundreds of varieties of impatiens. Single and double flower varieties; double flowers look much like small roses. Colors range from magenta and violet to pink, salmon, white, and yellow.
Impatiens balsamina, Balsam: Annual that easily self-sows and is common in gardens. Grows 2-inch (5cm) camelia-like flowers; the plant grows 10 to 30 inches (25-76cm) tall; leaves can grow to 6 inches (15cm) long; flowers appear on stems among the leaves; flowers in pink, and red, lilac, and white; a good choice to plant in masses in sun or light shade.
I. glandulifera, Himalayan jewelweed: Annual; this species is native to the Himalayas but has been naturalized to other regions of the world; grows 12 to 36 inches (30-91cm) tall; ovate to lance-shaped leaves; bears clusters of 1½ inch (4cm) lavender to rose-purple flowers.
I. New Guinea hybrids, New Guinea impatiens: Tender perennials developed by crossing various species from New Guinea including Impatiens schlecteri; lance-shaped dark green leaves often striped bright-colored yellow or bronze or variegated with yellow or cream; some plants can reach from 8 to 24 inches (20-61cm) tall and wide; flat-faced 2 to 2 ½ inch-wide flowers that appear summer to frost in shades of rose, red, salmon, lilac-pink, and white.
I. wallerana, Busy Lizzie: Tender perennial is often grown as an annual. Many cultivars and sizes from 4 to 24 inches (10-61cm) tall; rounded to lance-shaped leaves are green with a bronze finish; showy flat-faced flowers, single or double, 1- to 2 ½ inches wide in colors that range from pink, dark pink, lavender, rose, white, salmon, red, and orange-red and bicolors; flowers from summer to frost. Elfin Series matures at six inches (15cm) tall.

Impatiens balsamina

Impatiens balsamina is an old garden favorite. Flowers appear between the leaves along its stem; as the stem grows more flowers appear. Recent cultivars have showy flowers held further from the stems or higher on the plant. The 1- to 3-inch-long flowers are usually double, in white or shades of pink, rose, salmon, scarlet, yellow, or purple; some are bicolored. The bright green leaves are 6 inches long, pointed, and deeply serrated. Balsam blooms from early summer to frost.

Size: 1 to 3 feet tall; almost as wide.
Light: Full sun where summers are cool; shade in warm-summer areas.
Soil and moisture: Rich, sandy loam; plentiful moisture, especially when hot.
Planting and propagation: Sow indoors, uncovered, at 70° to 75°F, four to six weeks before the last frost. Plant outdoors two weeks after the last frost, spacing 8 inches to 1 ½ feet apart. May self-sow.
Special care: Remove spent flowers to prolong the bloom period. To better show flowers, pinch taller forms to increase bushiness, and strategically pinch off leaves.
Pest and diseases: Two-spotted spider mites, thrips, and damping off can be a problem.
Climate: Warm-season annual in Zones 2-11.
Cultivars: ‘Tom Thumb Mix,’ 8 inches to 1 foot tall, bushy, top flowering; ‘Double Camellia-flowered Mix,’ 1 1/3 to 2 1/3 feet tall; ‘Double Strawberry,’ red-and-white bicolor; ‘Blackberry Ice,’ purple-and-white bicolor; ‘Peppermint Extra Double,’ red with white spots 2 feet tall.
Garden use: Lovely in a cottage garden or informal border.

Impatiens wallerana — Impatiens, Busy Lizzie

Impatiens wallerana is the number-one rated annual. Intensive breeding has produced a myriad of varieties, including types that branch basally and need no pinching, ones that form a blanket of self-cleaning blossoms, and ones with better sun tolerance—as well as new colors. The 1- to 2-inch-wide, open-faced blossoms have spurred petals and come in white, pink, rose, red, peach, salmon, orange, lavender, or purple and bicolored. A few produce double, roselike blossoms leaves are usually bright green, but some types are bronze.

Size: 6 inches to 1 ¼ feet tall; 10 inches to 1 ½ feet wide.
Light: Part or full shade; tolerates full sun in cool-summer areas.
Soil and moisture: Rich, sandy loam; plentiful moisture, especially when hot.
Planting and propagation: Use nursery transplants or sow indoors, lightly covered, at 70° to 75°F, 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost. Set 10 inches to 1 ¼ feet apart. Some types come true only from cuttings.
Special care: If plants don’t branch enough, pinch tips. Wilting at midday usually means too much sun, not too little water.
Pest and diseases: Occasionally two-spotted spider mites, thrips, and damping off.
Climate: Tender perennial grown as warm-season, half-hardy annual in Zones 2-11. Perennial in Zone 11 and in mild parts of Zone 10.
Cultivars: ‘Super Elfin’ series, 11-color mix, and single colors, 6 to 10 inches tall, excellent in deep shade. ‘Accent’ series: 4 to 8 inches tall, 2-inch blossoms, 15 colors, and five bicolors called ‘Accent Star’ series; ‘Rosette Hybrid Mix,’ 1 ½ to 1 2/3 feet tall, doubles. ‘Deco ‘series: red, orange purple, or scarlet with bronze foliage. ‘Blitz’ series: 12 to 14 inches tall, 2-inch flowers. ‘Dazzler’ series: 8 to 10 inches tall, excellent shade performer, more than 15 colors, including ‘Cran berry’ and ‘Sky Blue’ (pale lavender), ‘Confection’ series: double and semidoubles, light pink, orange, red, rose, or mixed, 1 to 2 feet tall.
Garden use: Best planted in single-color groups in shade gardens, window boxes, or containers. Combines with ferns, hostas, and other shade-loving foliage plants. Pastel colors stand out best in shade.

Impatiens x hybrida — New guinea impatiens

New guinea impatiens are a hybrid introduced in the 1970s. The plants bear 3-to 4-inch vivid red, orange, pink, coral, purple, lavender, or white single, spurred flowers on bushy plants that thrive on sunny sites. The leaves are unusually bronze, bicolored, or even tricolored with green bronze, yellow, orange, or red stripes, and splashes.

Size: 1 to 2 feet tall; forms a wide mound.
Light: Full sun to light shade.
Soil and moisture: Rich, well-drained soil; plentiful moisture.
Planting and propagation: Best started from nursery transplants or stem cuttings. Sow seed uncovered, indoors, 10 weeks before the last frost. Space 1 to 1 2/3 feet apart.
Special care: Pinch leggy plants. Plants can be wintered indoors in sunny windows.
Pest and diseases: Cyclamen mites, thrip, and red spider mites may be troublesome.
Climate: Warm-season annual in zones 2-10. Blooms year-round in a frost-free climate. Performs best in cool summer.
Cultivars: From cuttings: ‘Sunshine’ series, compact plants; ‘American Indian,’ large, abundant flowers; ‘Vista,’ large flowers. As seed: ‘Spectra’ series, 10 to 14 inches tall in mixes of various flower and leaf colors; ‘Sweet Sue,’ red-tinged dark foliage, intense orange flowers, dark green leaves, 2 feet tall.
Garden use: Site carefully because color combinations can be overpowering. Good in containers, window boxes, and gardens.

Impatiens frequently asked questions

Q: How much shade can impatiens take?

A: Impatiens are more shade tolerant than any other annual. That said, bright light, with a few hours of direct sun, is needed for the best flowers.

Q: Can I sow impatiens seeds directly in the garden?

A: You can, but it is unlikely the seeds will have enough time to grow into flowering plants–unless you are in the tropics. The best course is to start seeds indoors 10 to 14 weeks before the last spring frost for transplanting out a few weeks after the last frost. Otherwise, purchase nursery started plants for translating into the garden.

Q: The leave of my impatiens wilt during the day even though I water them well. Why?

A; Impatiens want moist soil. It is not uncommon for impatiens to wilt when the weather is hot. Mulch around the plants to retain soil moisture and keep the soil cool.

Q: My impatiens have grown tall and lush, but they have no flowers. What’s wrong?

A: You have probably overfertilized them. Fertilize impatiens lightly early in the season and then not again during the growing season.

Q: How do I care for impatiens indoors?

A: Impatiens make excellent everblooming house plants provided they can be grown fairly cool, not warmer than 65°F. They also need humidity greater than 40 percent. Set pots on pebble-filled saucers of water –this will promote humidity. If long bare stems develop, cut them all the way back. Do not let the soil dry out or the leaves will yellow. Place impatiens where they get bright light.

Q: Can I dig up impatiens from my garden and get them to bloom indoors in winter?

A: Yes, if you prepare them for the move. Pot them carefully in early September. Set them in a shaded, sheltered place outdoors for a couple of weeks. Then bring them indoors to a spot with good air circulation and bright light. Keep the soil just moist and provide the necessary humidity–40 percent. With proper care, they will bloom enthusiastically indoors.

Q: What is the sticky substance on my impatiens?

A: This is likely honeydew, the excrement of aphids or scale insects. Locate the pests and control them with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.

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