Impatiens
ExplorePlants
Impatiens
Impatiens
Impatiens are colorful flowers that love shade! They bloom all summer and are perfect for brightening up darker spaces.
Habitat: Shady gardens and indoor spaces
Appearance
The Impatiens has vibrant, flat-petaled flowers often with a distinctive spur at the back, appearing in shades of pink, red, orange, white, and purple. Its delicate, broad leaves are usually bright green, creating a lush, bushy appearance.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderEricalesFamilyBalsaminaceaeGenusImpatiens
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Many species of Impatiens are called 'Busy Lizzies' because they bloom so much.
Some Impatiens flowers have a long, slender tube called a spur that holds nectar for pollinators.
The name 'Impatiens' means 'impatient,' referring to how its seed pods burst open!
The tiny droplets of water you sometimes see on their leaves in the morning are not dew, but the plant 'sweating'!
Special abilities
Ability
Exploding Seeds
Impatiens can forcefully eject its seeds when mature pods are touched, helping it spread quickly.
Ability
Shade Thriver
Impatiens has adapted to flourish in shady spots where many other colorful plants struggle to grow.
Ability
Constant Bloomer
Impatiens can produce new flowers continuously from spring until frost, providing season-long color.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 20-60 cm
- Spread
- 20-40 cm
- Flower Size
- 2-5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring to first frost
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
collects nectar and pollen
pollinates
Monarch butterfly
Danaus plexippus
visits flowers for nectar
eaten by
Two-spotted spider mite
Tetranychus urticae
feeds on plant sap
parasitizes
Impatiens downy mildew
Plasmopara obducens
causes leaf yellowing and death
Traits
Annual
Annual plants complete their entire life cycle, from germination to seed production, within a single growing season.
Cluster Flower
Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Summer Blooming
Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
Everblooming
Everblooming plants produce flowers continuously or in repeated flushes over a long period.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Also known as
Balsam
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Impatiens?
20-60 cm
How wide does Impatiens spread?
20-40 cm
How big are the flowers on Impatiens?
2-5 cm
When does Impatiens bloom?
Spring to first frost
Is Impatiens edible?
No
Is Impatiens toxic?
Mild
What is Impatiens's lifecycle?
Annual
How is Impatiens pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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