Alphabetical Plant Listing

Impatiens: How to Grow and Care with Success

New Guinea Impatiens, Impatiens walleriana, Impatiens balsamina, Impatiens capensis


What are Impatiens?

Impatiens are a genus of flowering plants prized for their vibrant and colorful blooms. They are annuals, perennials, or subshrubs native to Africa, Asia, and North America. They are widely cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens, borders, containers, and hanging baskets due to their attractive foliage and prolific blooming habit. They are a versatile and low-maintenance option for adding color to shady or partially shaded areas of the garden.

Growth Habit: Impatiens typically have a bushy, compact growth habit, with some species having a more trailing or spreading nature. They are ideal for filling gaps in shady or partially shaded areas and providing a burst of color.

Size: They vary in size, with most species reaching between 6-36 inches in height (15-90 cm) and 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) in width.

Flowers: Flowers come in a wide range of colors, including pink, red, purple, white, and orange. Some varieties also have bicolored or patterned flowers. The blooms are usually spurred or flattened and can be single or double.

Blooming Season: Impatiens typically bloom from spring through fall, providing continuous color throughout the growing season.

Hardiness: Impatiens are generally considered tender plants, with most species being frost-sensitive. Most Impatiens varieties are suitable for USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11, where they can be grown as perennials. In colder zones, they are typically grown as annuals and need to be replanted each year.

Uses: Impatiens are popular for their use in garden beds, borders, containers, hanging baskets, and window boxes. They are also often used as ground covers in shady areas.

Guide Information

Hardiness 7 - 11
Plant Type Annuals, Perennials
Plant Family Impatiens
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas Beds and Borders, Hanging Baskets, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage
Compare All Impatiens Guides with Impatiens

Yui Yuize, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 7 - 11
Plant Type Annuals, Perennials
Plant Family Impatiens
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas Beds and Borders, Hanging Baskets, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage
Compare All Impatiens Guides with Impatiens

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.