Impatiens is a popular annual plant for cultivating in shade gardens, and this is not without good reason. These plants are exceedingly easy to grow, maintain and take care of.
Not only that, they are also incredibly beautiful. Their blooming period is quite long, and they will decorate your garden with bright spots of color almost all year round, except during the winter months.
If you enjoy having white, red, pink, salmon and orange flowers in the garden, Impatiens is a perfect plant to choose.
Moreover, some of them come in combination of two colors. There are also some hybrids available, commonly they are more showy and characterized by stronger resistance to the sunlight, such as New Guinea Impatiens.
In general, all you need for growing Impatiens is a shaded location with a moist soil that is rich in humus.
You will not need to “dead head” the plants after the flowers fade, the flowering period is long enough even without that process.
You will never regret planting this humble but beautiful plant: Impatiens is perfectly suitable for the shady parts of your garden.
Moreover, they are nice for growing indoors and look perfect in hanging baskets.
I have already mentioned the beautiful flowers, but even when the plants do not bloom they still look attractive because of their showy leaves. You will definitely enjoy their glossy and attractive look.
An interesting fact about these plants – if you touch them, the seed walls can burst because of water collected there. That is why Impatiens are also known as 'snapweed' and 'touch-me-not'.
Impatiens Propagation
There are two ways to propagate these plants: by seed and cuttings. They practice cuttings when the plant is already grown and established. Once your Impatiens plants are grown, you can afford to make lots of cuttings to fill all your baskets and pots, and even to give out to all your neighbors and friends.
If you opt for growing the plants from seeds, do not forget that they require heat and light for germination. Sow the seeds into containers or trays with soil. Put them onto the top of some warm surface. It is highly recommended to start this process in the house as these plants take quite some time to develop.
Growing Impatiens Flowers
As mentioned above, Impatiens flowers prefer shady places. You can choose locations that have partial or full shade. The perfect place would be under the trees, near the house or garage, or at the side of the flower bed.
The soil should be well drained, moist and rich. Do not forget about regular watering and keep the soil form drying out. Once a month fertilize the soil.
If you keep the plants in baskets, pots or containers, water them once every twenty or twenty five days with liquid fertilizer. Bring the baskets and containers indoors before the first frosts as these plants will not survive under such conditions outdoors.
Tips
These plants are annual and will grow for only one year, but in warm climates, including the 10 and 11 USDA zones, Impatiens can be grown as perennials.
They are mainly resistant to a great number of pests and diseases, but you should prevent them from drying out, otherwise they will become more susceptible.
Buy Impatiens Flowers
Summary
Impatiens flower is by far the most grown shade annual, and rightfully so. Probably the easiest, care free and absolutely beautiful. After the last frost right through to the first frost... it's color on parade.
All it needs is good rich humus soil and moisture. Colors of white, pink, red, orange, salmon and some have two colors. Then there is a double flower impatiens, quite spectacular in my humble opinion.
There are hybrids coming on the market from time to time.The introduction of the New Guinea has really taken off. They can withstand a little sun and there is one that claims to be sun tolerant. I saw it in the garden center last year but have no experience of it.
You can't go wrong with this very shade tolerant flower.
Propagate from seed or by taking cuttings. It's a very inexpensive shade flower that is so giving over the entire season that it is a must at least in some corner of your shade garden.
Good rich composted soil and moisture is all you need to enjoy the massive color throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall.
Not only that, they are also incredibly beautiful. Their blooming period is quite long, and they will decorate your garden with bright spots of color almost all year round, except during the winter months. 
You will never regret planting this humble but beautiful plant: Impatiens is perfectly suitable for the shady parts of your garden. 
