New Guinea Impatiens Impatiens hawkeri
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- im-PAY-shens HAWK-er-ee
- Description
-
These succulent, branched perennial herbs grow up to 1'3" tall, mounding with lower leaves up off the ground. New Guinea Impatiens tolerate full sun, but are a water guzzler and tend to look wilted when heat loads are high and water is less plentiful, making this plant have a low drought tolerance. Gardeners must be careful when watering the plant, however, because over watering can cause rot. This plant is utilized in planters, hanging baskets, containers, around trees in shaded areas, and in bedding. It has multiple cultivars and is often confused with sultanas although leaves are thicker and leaves in mound are raised above the ground.
This plant performs best in partial shade with well-drained, moist soils supplemented with organic material. Seeds are sown in March under glass, and germinates at 70-75 degrees. Planted out in May. This plant is resistant to Downy Mildew.
Quick ID Hints:
- Flowers have conspicuous, elongated spur.
- Lateral sepals are suborbicular, broad, and acuminate.
- Leaves have stalked glands on teeth rising above the leaf plane.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Japanese Shade Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Bonfire Orange
- Celebrate Peach
- Celebrate Salmon
- Celebration Apricot
- Celebration Bonfire Orange
- Celebration Light Lavender
- Celebration Light Salmon
- Light Salmon
- Raul
- Bonfire Orange
- Bonfire Orange, Celebrate Peach, Celebrate Salmon, Celebration Apricot, Celebration Bonfire Orange, Celebration Light Lavender, Celebration Light Salmon, Light Salmon, Raul
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Bonfire Orange
- Celebrate Peach
- Celebrate Salmon
- Celebration Apricot
- Celebration Bonfire Orange
- Celebration Light Lavender
- Celebration Light Salmon
- Light Salmon
- Raul
- Bonfire Orange
- Bonfire Orange, Celebrate Peach, Celebrate Salmon, Celebration Apricot, Celebration Bonfire Orange, Celebration Light Lavender, Celebration Light Salmon, Light Salmon, Raul
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Impatiens
- Family:
- Balsaminaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Solomon Island
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Colorful
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to Downy Mildew.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 3 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are explosive capsules rolling suddenly inward, and have a ribbed, rubbery-succulent texture.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are solitary on elongated pedicels and are conspicuously spurred. They are calyx with 5 lobes, 2 lateral lobes are green, broad oval, and acuminate. Petals are of anthrocyanin pigments. Spur is prominent.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite to whorled, ovate to elliptic to lanceolate, crenate with minute stalked glands rising upward, acute to subauminate, green with tinge of bronze or purple, or variegated.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are suberect to decumbent, branching, and bear leaves.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
