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.
Impatiens don't tolerate cold weather and will wilt and die once frost arrives. Don't plant impatiens outdoors until after the last frost of spring; it's best to wait until nighttime temperatures remain at 50ºF or higher.
Impatiens perform best in moist, well-drained soils in partial shade. Sites that receive 2 to 4 hours of filtered sun during the day or morning sun and afternoon shade are usually ideal. Impatiens can also be grown in heavy shade. However, plants will be taller and bloom less profusely in heavily shaded locations.
Impatiens are hardy in zones 10-12, but even a light frost will kill them.
Impatiens need lots of water, so it's important your soil provides sufficient drainage. If you're planting in a container such as a window box or hanging basket, use a well-drained potting soil or soilless potting mixture. Enrich your soil with nutrients. Fertilize your soil with aged compost before planting.
If fed too much, impatiens will happily grow a lot of leaves, but form few flowers making them higher-maintenance than most flowers. Pro tip: Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Bloom Booster Plant Food can help nourish Impatiens while boosting its blooms.
They are also used in container gardens, ranging from hanging baskets to window boxes. Here are the main care requirements for growing impatiens: Choose a spot that gets dappled sunlight or full shade; avoid planting in full sun. Prepare moist, well-draining soil that's rich in nutrients.
Most impatiens are annuals, meaning they complete their life cycle in one growing season and do not come back the following year. However, some perennial varieties, like New Guinea impatiens, can come back year after year if grown in suitable climates (usually USDA zones 10 and 11).
No, impatiens are not poisonous to dogs.
Impatiens are beautiful flowering plants that go by many names, including Buzzy Lizzies, Patient Lucies, Patient Plants, Tangerine Impatience, and Giant Touch-Me-Nots. These plants are part of the Balsaminaceae family and are considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Impatiens actually have moderate water needs. These plants prefer well-draining soil. If you've planted your Beacon Impatiens in the ground, water them every few days to assure good rooting. During hotter temps in the middle of summer, you'll need to increase the frequency or the amount of water.
Begonias are tolerant of a range of light conditions, from full sun to shade. In colder climates, plants can tolerate more light. In warm regions, they need protection from hot afternoon sun to prevent leaf scald. Varieties with darker foliage can withstand more light than those with green leaves.
Frost tolerant
The colorful hybrid verbenas used in containers and summer beds are best grown as annuals. Tall purple verbena and ground cover verbenas tolerate winter cold to about 0°F (-18°C).
After planting, impatiens should be fertilized monthly using either a granular, water-soluble or a foliar fertilizer that contains higher amounts of phosphorus than nitrogen to promote new flower development over foliage growth.
Plants native to the subtropics are in danger below 40 degrees F and pretty certainly going to be killed at 32 degrees F. Plants native to the tropics are often damaged below 50 degrees F and perish at about 40 degrees F.
Rejuvenating impatiens that have become leggy and overgrown is as simple as a quick pruning. First, in order to keep your plants blooming all summer, pinch off the tops of stems after each flower has bloomed and faded. This deadheading encourages new blooms. You can do this regularly throughout the growing season.
Spotted Touch-Me-Not (Impatiens capensis) is a summer-blooming Adirondack wildflower bearing one-inch orange flowers with red or dark orange spots. It is a member of the Balsaminaceae family. The genus name (Impatiens) is Latin for "impatience." This is a reference to the seed, which explodes on touch when ripe.
At the same time, the successful development of Impatiens seeds is usually associated with pollinators visiting their flowers. The successful invasion of Impatiens therefore also depends on their floral traits, which enable them to attract insects.
Impatiens are sensitive to cold, with a minimum temperature threshold of around 32°F (0°C). Below this point, they can suffer significant damage, making it crucial to monitor nighttime temperatures in cooler months. Frost can be particularly detrimental to Impatiens.
Impatiens arguta
A vigorous and hardy species with long tubular purple flowers on red stems. Ideal for moist shady situations and flowering all summer.
Impatiens can readily self--seed. The seed pods are ripened in late summer to fall, and the seeds can be harvested. The plant can also be easily propagated from cuttings taken in the fall and replanted in the garden in the spring after the last frost has passed. Seeds may be sown indoors in late winter.
It is also advised that you keep your impatiens well mulched. Impatiens can be started either inside, or they can be planted outside in the spring once the chance of frost has passed.
Yellow Impatiens are the Goldilocks of the plant world when it comes to sunlight—they want it just right. They thrive in bright, indirect light but can handle some morning sun. However, the intense afternoon sun is a definite no-go.
Yes, deer eat impatiens. The flower of the impatient has a sweet flavor to the deer. Thus, they will be targeted if they are in your garden or landscape. Unfortunately, impatiens are not deer resistant plants.