Garden Balsam Impatiens balsamina
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- im-PAY-shens bal-SAM-in-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Garden balsam is a frost-tender annual in Balsaminaceae (impatens) family. The sparsely branched succulent stems can grow up to 30" tall but frequently exceeds this height in the wild. The vibrant cup-shaped flowers come in various shades of white, pink, red, and a bicolor version.
It prefers a moist setting and has a low tolerance for drought conditions.
Each flower has both male and female organs that are pollinated by insects. Seeds may inadvertently be spread as the capsules burst open, spreading the seed a distance from the plant. Seed collection is difficult as the capsules are sensitive to the touch, the capsules may burst open during collection.
An ideal plant for containers and areas along walks or paths.
Insect, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Its self-seeding tendencies can lead to weedy spreading.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Impatiens
- Species:
- balsamina
- Family:
- Balsaminaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- In traditional cultures in Southeast Asia the plant is used as a dye and for medical treatments.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western & South India, Sri Lanka
- Wildlife Value:
- Attractive to bees and other insects as well as nectar-feeding birds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Defines Paths
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4b, 4a, 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The only Impatiens species that have pubescent developing seed pods. Immature capsules are green and mature to yellow. When touched they explode and spread their seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 2" single to double flowers are hermaphroditic. They open as the male stage, the anthers fall off in a few days and the same flower becomes female and receptive to pollination.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Light green 3.5" elliptical to lanceolate serrate leaves
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Has a thick, soft green to red stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Large quantities when eaten raw, accumulate calcium oxalate. It produces a orange stain when you break off the stems/flowers. The plant uses this compound as a defense against grazing, which is why deer only ingest young seedlings or newest shoot tips.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Calcium oxalate and possibly saponic glycoside
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
