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New Guinea Impatiens Impatiens hawkeri

Other plants called New Guinea Impatiens:

Phonetic Spelling
im-PAY-shens HAWK-er-ee
Description

New Guinea impatiens is an herbaceous annual in the balsam family (Balsaminaceae), native to the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, that was introduced into the United States in the 1970s by plant collectors from the USDA and Longwood Gardens. The genus name comes from the Latin impatiens meaning impatient and refers to the sudden seed discharge from the ripe pods. The species epithet honors Lt. Hawker of the British Royal Navy, who collected the plant in Papua New Guinea in 1884. It has a mounding form and will grow 6 to 20 inches tall. It has multiple cultivars and is often confused with common impatiens.  

This impatiens plant will grow in full sun to deep shade but performs best in partial shade and in well-drained, moist soils supplemented with organic matter. The more sun it receives, the more water it will require. It is resistant to downy mildew. Propagate it by seed in soil that is 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit for successful germination. 

Its flowers come in a range of colors and bloom from spring through fall. Use New Guinea impatiens in hanging baskets and containers to accent a patio, poolside hardscape, or small space. In small groups the plant makes a colorful border, walkway, or foundation planting. It is stunning as a mass planting and attracts butterflies. 

Quick ID Hints:

  • Flowers have a conspicuous, elongated spur.

  • Lateral sepals are suborbicular, broad, and acuminate.

  • Leaves have stalked glands on teeth rising above the leaf plane.

  • Underside of the leaves is often red or purple.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Some cultivars have shown good to excellent resistance to phytophthora and leaf spot. See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.

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 landscapes:
Japanese Shade Garden Shady Garden in Cabarrus County
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Bonfire Orange
    very large, vibrant flowers on compact plant
  • Celebrate Peach
    vigorous and well branched
  • Celebrate Salmon
    coral colored blooms
  • Celebration Apricot
    blooms cover the plant even in high heat
  • Celebration Bonfire Orange
    round scarlet flowers
  • Celebration Light Lavender
    green variegated foliage and lavender flowers
  • Celebration Light Salmon
    large flowers on vigorous plants
  • 'Harmony'
    Good resistance to leaf spot.
  • Light Salmon
    salmon colored flowers at the end of stems
  • Raul
  • Sunpatiens Compact Orchid
    Excellent resistance to phytophthora.
  • Sunpatiens Lilac
    Excellent resistance to phytophthora.
Bonfire Orange, Celebrate Peach, Celebrate Salmon, Celebration Apricot, Celebration Bonfire Orange, Celebration Light Lavender, Celebration Light Salmon, 'Harmony', Light Salmon, Raul, Sunpatiens Compact Orchid, Sunpatiens Lilac
Tags:
#purple#full sun tolerant#lavender#salmon#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#shade garden#orange flowers#salmon flowers#apvg#fall interest#summer flowers#lavender flowers#spring interest#fantz#apvg-a#partial shade tolerant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#perennial#annual#landscape plant sleuths course
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Bonfire Orange
    very large, vibrant flowers on compact plant
  • Celebrate Peach
    vigorous and well branched
  • Celebrate Salmon
    coral colored blooms
  • Celebration Apricot
    blooms cover the plant even in high heat
  • Celebration Bonfire Orange
    round scarlet flowers
  • Celebration Light Lavender
    green variegated foliage and lavender flowers
  • Celebration Light Salmon
    large flowers on vigorous plants
  • 'Harmony'
    Good resistance to leaf spot.
  • Light Salmon
    salmon colored flowers at the end of stems
  • Raul
  • Sunpatiens Compact Orchid
    Excellent resistance to phytophthora.
  • Sunpatiens Lilac
    Excellent resistance to phytophthora.
Bonfire Orange, Celebrate Peach, Celebrate Salmon, Celebration Apricot, Celebration Bonfire Orange, Celebration Light Lavender, Celebration Light Salmon, 'Harmony', Light Salmon, Raul, Sunpatiens Compact Orchid, Sunpatiens Lilac
Tags:
#purple#full sun tolerant#lavender#salmon#white flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#shade garden#orange flowers#salmon flowers#apvg#fall interest#summer flowers#lavender flowers#spring interest#fantz#apvg-a#partial shade tolerant#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#perennial#annual#landscape plant sleuths course
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Impatiens
    Family:
    Balsaminaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Solomon Island, New Guinea, and New Ireland
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Colorful
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Resistant to downy mildew and phytophthora.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Mounding
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • 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
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits are explosive capsules rolling suddenly inward, and have a ribbed, rubbery-succulent texture.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Orange
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    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.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems are suberect to decumbent, branching, and bear leaves.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Container
    Hanging Baskets
    Patio
    Pool/Hardscape
    Small Space
    Walkways
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Butterflies