AnnualsDiscover the right annual plants for your garden.
Rockapulco ® Coral Reef double impatiens . Photo by Proven Winners .
For years , impatienswere my go - to annual for the shade garden because they bloom like mad and come in a variety of color . And then one summertime not so long ago , the bloom stopped — they had become victims of sericeous mold .
Many nurseries were squeeze to stop carryingImpatiens wallerianato prevent the spread of the disease , and moved to the more live New Guinea impatiens . The good news show is , these soft - to - develop shade annuals are back , thanks to newfangled hybrid bred to fend off downy mold . You ’ll also discover them in more flower and foliage colors than ever before .
On this page : Basics|Types|Growing Tips|Care|Impatiens Pictures|Garden Uses|What about Impatiens Downy Mildew ?
BASICS
Botanical name:
Impatiensspp . ( describe the “ raring " nature of the seed seedcase , which burst opened when ripe to in effect disperse their content ) .
Common names:
Impatiens , Touch - me - not plant , meddling Lizzie , patient Lucy , sultana
Annual or perennial?
A pinnace herbaceous perennial in hardiness zone 10 - 11 ; grow as an annual in most part of the country .
Bloom period:
Late leap until the first Robert Frost .
Mature height:
Anywhere from 8 to 12 inches tall for dwarf forms , to as tall as 3 pes for magnanimous cultivar .
Sun or shade?
Impatiens wallerianavarieties prefer light to medium wraith ; New Guinea impatiens will tolerate more sun .
TYPES
GROWING TIPS
Container compounding featuring ( top to bottom ): Toucan ® Scarlet canna lily , ColorBlaze ® Wicked Hot ™ flame nettle , Luscious ® Goldengate ™ lantana ( left ) , and SunPatiens ® Compact Orange impatiens ( right ) . photograph by Proven Winners .
When to plant:
Set out transplants in other springtime or inseminate source indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last freeze date . They are very sensitive to cold-blooded temperatures , so be trusted the menace of frost has go and the soil has warm up before planting impatiens in the ground .
Where to plant:
In productive , well - draining soil enrich with organic matter . PlantI. wallerianain light to intermediate shade , keeping them out of lineal sunlight . New Guinea impatiens will tolerate more sun if you keep their roots moist .
Plant spacing:
nigher spatial arrangement will further marvellous growth , while more space between plants encourages them to scatter out and occupy in the gaps . flora further aside if used as a ground cover .
Planting in containers:
Use a ecumenical - use , well - draining potting land ; one with a slow - button fertilizer will keep your plant well get them off to a dear start . If combining impatiens with other annuals or perennial , pick out variety with the same exposure and watering requirements .
IMPATIENS CARE
Watering:
Impatiens are not drought liberal , so they necessitate to be watered on a regular basis during juiceless spells to keep the soil systematically moist and forestall the plants from wilting . To help retain moisture , remedy the stain with constitutive matter and apply a stratum of mulch . If planted in potty , they may involve to be watered day by day during hot , teetotal conditions .
Fertilizing:
employ compost or aslow - exit granular fertilizerat planting sentence . Container - grown plants may need more frequent feedings with a liquid fertilizer .
Pruning:
Although pruning is unneeded , you may vellicate plants back if they become tall and long-legged to encourage shaggy-haired growth . Your plant life will quick respond with a new flush of blooms . Flowers are self - cleaning , sparing you the chore of deadheading .
Pest and diseases:
Few serious insect or pest problems gravel impatiens , but your plant life can still give in to downy mildew if you are not growing a disease - resistant variety . See below for more selective information on downy mould .
IMPATIENS PICTURES
Although the threat of downy mildew has abated over the last mates of years , it ’s still best to essay out newer varieties of impatiens that are mildew - resistant , like those sport here :
pic : Proven succeeder
Rockapulco ® Coral Reef — Buy now from Proven WinnersImpatiens walleriana
Zones:
10 - 11 , otherwise grow as an annual
Height:
10 to 20 inches tall
Spread:
12 to 24 inches wide
Exposure:
Partial to full shade
Bring the color of the tropics to your subtlety garden with this threefold impatiens variety . Mix with Lemon Coral sedum for a bold contrast .
Rockapulco ® Tropical Shades — Buy now from Proven WinnersImpatiens walleriana
Brighten suspicious spots with masses of orange - pink peak that bet like tiny rosebuds .
See more from theRockapulco ® seriesof impatiens .
Rockapulco ® Wisteria — Buy now from Proven WinnersImpatiens walleriana
This beautiful bicolor double impatiens adds a touch of elegance to shady baskets , container , or windowpane boxes . Keep soil moist when planted in container .
SunPatiens ® Compact Tropical Rose — Buy now from Proven WinnersImpatiensxhybrida
16 to 30 inch
14 to 20 inches
fond shade to full sun
Loves sun , heat , and humidity , but also does n’t beware a number of shade , allowing you to get it almost anywhere . bloom are nearly 3 inches across , but the variegated foliage is just as eye - catch .
See more from theSunPatiens ® seriesof impatiens .
SunPatiens ® Compact White — Buy now from Proven WinnersImpatiensxhybrida
Another robust SunPatiens salmagundi perfect for cheery spots or those with a bit of shade as well . Numerous bloodless efflorescence bloom from bounce until the first Robert Lee Frost , atop dark dark-green foliation .
exposure by Ball Horticultural .
Beacon ™ Violet ShadesImpatiens walleriana
10 to 12 inches
12 to 15 inches
Adaptable to sun or shade off
extremely resistant to downy mold , works are more vigorous and sun liberal than traditionalI. walleriana . usable in eight color options .
Photo courtesy Syngenta Flowers .
Imara ™ XDR Orange StarI. walleriana
Height/Spread:
Shade to fond sun
Imara ™ XDR ( extra disease resistant ) is also highly resistant to downy mildew . uncommitted in seven color options .
Bounce ™ Pink FlameImpatiens’Balboufink '
Not only resist sericeous mildew , but also has the power to " bounce " back if wilted in live conditions . Spreading habit ideal for use in hanging baskets , borders , and as a ground cover .
GARDEN USES
With their speedy development habit and abundant bloom production , impatiens are gravid pick for your garden . Here are a few ways to use them :
WHAT ABOUT DOWNY MILDEW?
Impatiens flossy mildew . Photo Courtesy of Kelly Ivors / University of Wisconsin .
What to look for:
The tell - tale signs of infection include yellow leaf , wilting , and bloodless spore on the undersides of the leaves .
How to prevent downy mildew:
The good preventive measures admit keep the leave of absence ironical when irrigate and provide enough air circulation between plant . If you do witness impatiens downy mould , it ’s almost unacceptable to get free of , and it is best to take out and put away of the affected plants .
To forbid reinfection , do n’t implant new impatiens in the same garden bed . While the newfangled industrial plant may not have the disease ( even types breed to be resistant are not whole immune ) , they could still fall victim if planted where spore still linger in the ground .
If you have n’t grown them for a few years or you project to put them in container , there is less to care about . Or , industrial plant New Guinea impatiens instead , which are by nature mold - resistant . Read downy mold and other alternative to plant .
