Impatiens
| Lifespan: | ⌛ | perennials and annuals"perennials and annuals" is not in the list (perennial, annual, biennial, unknown) of allowed values for the "Lifespan" property. |
|---|---|---|
| Origin: | ✈ | [[Origin::Tropics of N Hemispherewp]] |
| Exposure: | ☼ | [[Exposure::vary by speciessn]] |
|---|---|---|
| Water: | ◍ | [[Water::regularsn]] |
| Features: | ✓ | flowers, naturalizes |
| Sunset Zones: | [[Sunset zones::vary by speciessn]] |
There are hundreds of species of Impatiens, though four are much more commonly grown in gardens than the restsn. Most are annuals, or perennials treated as annualssn. They are grown for their flowers, which continue until frost. When the seed capsules are ripe, they explode upon being lightly touched, shooting little seeds around.sn Stems are usually succulentRH, and flowers, which may be solitary or in groups, usually have 3 (or rarely 5) sepalsRH. In some species the lowest sepal is large and extended backwards into a spurRH.
Four most commonly grown:
Impatiens walleriana may be the most popular bedding plant in Americasn.
Impatiens balsamina - Balsam
Impatiens sodenii - Poor Man's Rhododendron
Impatiens 'New Guinea' hybrids. Note darker leaves.
Cultivation
Need moist soil, good drainage, humus-rich soil, as well as a cool site (except for I. mirabilis)RH. Perennials should be kept relatively dry in the winter dormancy periodRH. Pinch plants regularly if you want to keep them bushyRH, otherwise some can get leggy. For tall-flowering I. balsamina shoots, remove the side shoots and initial flower budsRH.
Most are frost tender, but I. glandulifera, I. noli-tangere and I. capensis can not only survive, but self-sow where winter temperatures drop to -15°C (5°F)RH. These species can also become invasive in ideal conditions.
Propagation
Seed can be short lived in some speciesRH, sow as fresh as possible. Softwood cuttings can be taken of plants you likeRH.
Seeds of frost-sensitive sorts should be planted under glass in spring, then picked out and planted in individual pots of loamless or loam of medium fertilityRH. Grow in a sunny, airy spot, free of frost, and pinch to keep compactRH. Plant outdoors only after danger of frost is passed, and water well.
Softwood cuttings can be taken in spring, and placed in soilless potting mix, best with some bottom heatRH.
Pests and diseases
- Main article: List of impatiens diseases
Red spider mites and aphids can be a problem, especially under glassRH. Grey mold can cause flower buds to shrivelRH. Impatiens species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Dot Mothwp.
Species
There are about 850RH species of Impatiens, including:
Gallery
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Double flowered I. walleriana
photo 2
photo 3
References
- Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
External links
- w:Impatiens. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
- Impatiens QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)
