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Impatiens walleriana

Previously known as:

  • Impatiens holstii
  • Impatiens sultanii
Phonetic Spelling
im-PAY-shuns wall-er-ee-AY-nuh
Description

Impatiens are one of the most popular bedding plants and one of the most common shade flowering plants in the United States. Their bright and prolific blooms of white, peach, apricot, pink, and red are present from late spring until the first frost of fall. They are technically herbaceous perennial plants in tropical zones, but they are frequently grown as annuals.  They are fast-growing, dense, mounding, or clumping in habit and grow 0.5 to 2 feet tall and equally as wide. Flowers may be bicolored, single, or double. They have 5 petals, and the leaves are oval to elliptic and light green to dark green with sometimes a bronze cast.

This plant is native to Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. It is a subshrub and is found primarily in wet tropical areas.

The genus name, Impatiens, is derived from the Latin word impatiens, which means "impatient.' This references the abrupt release of seeds from the ripe seed pods in the late summer and fall.

Impatiens perform best in part shade to full shade. They may grow in partly sunny areas when they have adequate water, but too much sun may scorch the leaves. They require moist, well-drained soils, supplemented with organic material, and a slightly acidic pH.  The plants tolerate humidity, but they are sensitive to heat and appear wilted in hot, dry spells and will require extra watering. Overwatering, however, can cause the plant to rot. This plant has low drought tolerance and is hardy in zones 10 to 11. In late summer, the plants may appear leggy. To promote new blooms and improve the plant's appearance, trim off the top one-third of the plant.

Impatiens can readily self--seed. The seed pods are ripened in late summer to fall, and the seeds can be harvested. The plant can also be easily propagated from cuttings taken in the fall and replanted in the garden in the spring after the last frost has passed. Seeds may be sown indoors in late winter. It may take several months for the seeds to mature into flowering plants. Seedlings can be planted outdoors after the last spring frost.  These are tropical plants that will not tolerate cold weather. It is best to pull up the plants in the late fall and discard them or bring the potted plants indoors over the winter months.

Impatiens are often utilized in planters, hanging baskets, and containers. They are also used in mass along shady borders, under trees, or in woodland settings. Remember to consider disease-resistant varieties or cultivars for success in the garden. 

Seasons of Interest:

Bloom:  Late Spring, Summer, and Early Fall     Foliage:  Late Spring, Summer, and Early Fall

Quick ID Hints:

  • Flowers have a white, conspicuous, elongated spur.
  • Has a lateral sepal pair that is elongated and narrow.
  • Leaves have stalked glands on teeth rising above the leaf plane.
  • This succulent mounding plant has leaves that touch the ground.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems:  Impatiens have no serious insect or disease problems. Deer can be troublesome. Potential insect pests include aphids, nematodes, spider mites, slugs, and snails. It is susceptible to powdery mildew, downy mildew, and verticillium wilt. It is always best to purchase healthy or disease-resistant plants. Impatiens hawkeri is an alternative and is resistant to downy mildew. Downy mildew is, caused by the ‘fungus-like’ organism Plasmopara obducens. Fungicides used to control fungal diseases will not work on downy mildew.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Coastal Shade Garden Paths & Walkways
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Accent' Series
  • 'African Queen'
    yellow flowers with red markings
  • 'Beacon'
    highly resistant to downy mildew
  • 'Blackberry Ice'
  • 'Confection'
  • 'Eclipse'
  • 'Elfin White'
  • 'Extra Dwarf'
  • 'Fiesta Ole'
  • 'Impreza Cherry Splash'
  • 'Impreza Violet'
  • 'Jambalaya Deep Pink'
  • 'Jewel' Series
    variety of vibrant colored flowers
  • 'Lipstick'
  • 'Mini-Hawaiian' Series
    minatures with a variety of colors
  • 'Red Star'
  • 'Rockapulco Rose'
    bright rose colored double flowers, dark green foliage,
  • 'Silhoette Cherry'
  • 'Super Elfin XP Rose Improved'
  • 'Super Elfin XP Violet Starburst'
  • 'Tempo' Series
'Accent' Series, 'African Queen', 'Beacon', 'Blackberry Ice', 'Confection', 'Eclipse', 'Elfin White', 'Extra Dwarf', 'Fiesta Ole', 'Impreza Cherry Splash', 'Impreza Violet', 'Jambalaya Deep Pink', 'Jewel' Series, 'Lipstick', 'Mini-Hawaiian' Series, 'Red Star', 'Rockapulco Rose', 'Silhoette Cherry', 'Super Elfin XP Rose Improved', 'Super Elfin XP Violet Starburst', 'Tempo' Series
Tags:
#purple#showy flowers#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#shade garden#orange flowers#fall interest#rabbit resistant#mass planting#hanging baskets#mounding#peach flowers#summer flowers#deer browsing plant#annual flowers#border planting#spring interest#pollinator plant#clumping#fantz#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#heavy shade tolerant#woodland garden#container plant#annual#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Accent' Series
  • 'African Queen'
    yellow flowers with red markings
  • 'Beacon'
    highly resistant to downy mildew
  • 'Blackberry Ice'
  • 'Confection'
  • 'Eclipse'
  • 'Elfin White'
  • 'Extra Dwarf'
  • 'Fiesta Ole'
  • 'Impreza Cherry Splash'
  • 'Impreza Violet'
  • 'Jambalaya Deep Pink'
  • 'Jewel' Series
    variety of vibrant colored flowers
  • 'Lipstick'
  • 'Mini-Hawaiian' Series
    minatures with a variety of colors
  • 'Red Star'
  • 'Rockapulco Rose'
    bright rose colored double flowers, dark green foliage,
  • 'Silhoette Cherry'
  • 'Super Elfin XP Rose Improved'
  • 'Super Elfin XP Violet Starburst'
  • 'Tempo' Series
'Accent' Series, 'African Queen', 'Beacon', 'Blackberry Ice', 'Confection', 'Eclipse', 'Elfin White', 'Extra Dwarf', 'Fiesta Ole', 'Impreza Cherry Splash', 'Impreza Violet', 'Jambalaya Deep Pink', 'Jewel' Series, 'Lipstick', 'Mini-Hawaiian' Series, 'Red Star', 'Rockapulco Rose', 'Silhoette Cherry', 'Super Elfin XP Rose Improved', 'Super Elfin XP Violet Starburst', 'Tempo' Series
Tags:
#purple#showy flowers#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#shade garden#orange flowers#fall interest#rabbit resistant#mass planting#hanging baskets#mounding#peach flowers#summer flowers#deer browsing plant#annual flowers#border planting#spring interest#pollinator plant#clumping#fantz#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#heavy shade tolerant#woodland garden#container plant#annual#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Impatiens
    Species:
    walleriana
    Family:
    Balsaminaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    It is used in its native range as a medicine and food.
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe
    Distribution:
    Introduced: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaya, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, New South Wales, Nicaragua, Panama, Queensland Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Vietnam, and the United States--Al, DC, FL, HI, and OH.
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies and pollinators. Deer like to browse the plants.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Colorful
    Defines Paths
    Easy to Grow
    Shade
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Rabbit resistant
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Dense
    Erect
    Mounding
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    12 inches-3 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is a dehiscent capsule. It produces explosive capsules that roll suddenly inward and have a ribbed, rubbery-succulent texture. The seed pods burst open in the late summer and fall from September through October.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Orange
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are solitary on elongated pedicels, are conspicuously spurred, are calyx with 5 lobes, 2 lateral green lobes, and are narrow. Petals have anthocyanin pigments and prominent spurs. Flowers have a wide variety of colors: orange, pink, red, white, purple, and bi-colored. The flowers appear flat in appearance. Blooming occurs from May to October.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are alternate, petiolate, ovate to elliptic, serrate, and smooth. They have minute stalked glands rising upward, acute to sub-acuminate. They are green in color, and sometimes have a tinge of red or bronze. The leaves measure 1 to 3 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    The stems are green, smooth, and succulent. They are suberect to decumbent, branching, and bear leaves.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Container
    Hanging Baskets
    Houseplants
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Pool/Hardscape
    Small Space
    Walkways
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Heavy Shade
    Rabbits