Impatiens

White and orange impatiens

Credit: Angela Altomare

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Botanical name: Impatiens

Plant type: Flower

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10, 11

Sun exposure: Part Sun

Soil type: Loamy

Soil pH: Neutral


Flower color: Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow, Purple, White

Bloom time: Summer, Fall

Impatiens is a beautiful annual that makes an excellent houseplant or summer bedding plant. It is also known as "Busy Lizzie" and its name is a Latin word that describes the way its seeds shoot out of its pods when ripe (the slightest touch can make a ripe impatiens seed pod burst open and scatter its seeds). Impatiens like shade and moisture.

Planting

• Plant impatiens transplants after the last spring frost in humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil. Make sure the plants have some shelter from the wind.
• The closer impatiens plants are, the taller they will grow, so space accordingly (impatiens plants can grown anywhere between 6 and 30 inches tall). For flower beds, plant 8 to 12 inches apart so the plants will stay low to the ground.
• You can mix in compost or a slow-release fertilizer before transplanting to help the plants.
• If you have impatiens plants in containers, use a sterile or soil-less growing mixture to ensure better drainage for the plants.

Care

• The most important thing to remember about impatiens plants is to water them regularly. Keep them moist, but not too wet. If the plants dry out, they will lose their leaves. If you over-water the plants, this could encourage fungal diseases.
• Remember container plants will need more water.

Pests

• Spider mites
• Flower thrips
• Root knot nematode
• Whiteflies
• Aphids
• Caterpillars
• Gray mold
• Fungal leaf spot

Recommended Varieties

• Tom Thumb Series (Impatiens balsamina), which is a dwarf variety with large, double, brightly colored flowers.
• Super Elfin Series (Impatiens walleriana), which is a spreading plant with a wide variety of pastel colors.
• Swirl Series (Impatiens walleriana), which have pretty pink and orange flowers whose petals are outlined in r

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