New Guinea impatiens

Sun

Partial shade, ideally morning sun and afternoon shade. Avoid strong afternoon sun in hot climates; ordinary New Guinea impatiens are less sun-tolerant than some specially bred hybrid groups.

Water

Keep evenly moist but never waterlogged. Containers may need daily watering during hot weather; check the compost before watering.

Soil

Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil or container compost, preferably slightly acidic to neutral.

Height

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Late spring to autumn, until cold weather stops growth; potentially year-round in frost-free tropical conditions. Flowers come in white, pink, red, orange, salmon, lavender and purple, including bicolours.

Foliage

Evergreen. Glossy, pointed leaves with toothed edges, often dark green, bronze or reddish; some cultivated forms have cream or yellow variegation.

Growth

Fast during warm weather.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.5 ft (0.15 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

   full size

Full size in one season.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant out after frost danger has passed and nights are consistently above about 10°C (50°F); harden plants off first.
• Water at soil level when the surface begins to dry, soaking the root zone without leaving pots standing in water.
• Feed containers every two to four weeks with a balanced liquid fertiliser at the label rate; avoid overfeeding.
• Apply a thin organic mulch around bedding plants, keeping it clear of their soft stems.
• Give plants enough space for air circulation and shelter them from strong wind.

Pruning. Pinch young shoot tips if plants need more branching, and shorten leggy stems during the growing season. Remove damaged growth; routine deadheading is usually unnecessary.

Early spring

Start purchased plugs or rooted cuttings indoors in warm, bright conditions, away from direct midday sun.

Late spring

Harden off and plant outdoors once frost has passed and nights are reliably warm.

Summer

Check container moisture frequently and feed regularly while plants are actively growing.

Late summer

Take cuttings from healthy plants if you want to keep them under cover through winter.

Autumn

Before cold nights arrive, move plants you wish to keep into a warm, bright indoor position; compost frost-killed plants.

Winter

Keep overwintered plants frost-free, ideally above 10°C (50°F), and reduce watering without letting the root ball dry out.

• Mass beneath lightly shaded trees where irrigation can offset competition from tree roots.
• Fill sheltered patio pots with a single flower colour for a clear, repeated accent.
• Edge shaded paths with compact plants for colour close to eye level when seated.
• Combine with ferns, hostas and begonias to contrast bright flowers with broad or finely divided foliage.

Garden styles it suits: Tropical, Modern tropical, Modern courtyard, Cottage garden, Traditional and Small-space.

Plant it with: Hostas, Japanese painted fern, Coleus, Wax begonias, Torenia and Heuchera.

Wildlife: Flowers may be visited by bees, butterflies and, where present, hummingbirds. It is not a native habitat plant in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada or Australia.

• Wilting and scorched leaves: check soil moisture first. Water a dry root ball thoroughly and move plants out of harsh afternoon sun; do not add water to already soggy soil.
• Root and stem rots: improve drainage, empty saucers and let the compost surface begin to dry between waterings. Remove badly affected plants.
• Spider mites: look for pale stippling and fine webbing in hot, dry conditions. Rinse leaf undersides and use a labelled insecticidal soap if needed.
• Thrips: distorted flowers and silvery leaf marks can indicate feeding. Remove badly damaged flowers and use a locally approved treatment; discard plants showing persistent virus-like distortion or ring patterns.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is generally regarded as poisonous, but it is not a food plant and eating garden plants can still cause stomach upset.

• Busy Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana)

  Usually has smaller, softer green leaves and smaller flowers. New Guinea impatiens generally has larger, firmer, more pointed leaves, often with bronze colouring.

• SunPatiens (Impatiens hybrids)

  These closely related hybrids can look almost identical but are bred for greater sun tolerance and often stronger growth. The plant label is more reliable than appearance.

• Balsam (Impatiens balsamina)

  Has a more upright habit, narrow leaves and flowers clustered close to the main stems rather than displayed across a broad, leafy mound.

Impatiens comes from the Latin for 'impatient', referring to the ripe seed capsules that spring open when touched, while New Guinea identifies the plant's native region.

Propagation. Take soft stem-tip cuttings in spring or late summer and root them in moist, free-draining compost in warm, bright shade. Some strains can be raised from seed, but seed-grown plants may not match the parent. Check plant breeders' rights or patent restrictions before propagating named cultivars.

Accepted botanical name

Impatiens hawkeri

Native range

Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea and Solomon Is..

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.