If you look up during the winter, when all the deciduous trees have dropped their leaves, you might spot something still growing up there, tucked in the bare branches.It might be mistletoe, that beautiful parasite that we smooc
06.06.2023 - 16:38 / gardenerspath.com / Kristine Lofgren
How to Grow and Care for Impatiens Impatiens wallerianaImpatiens are famous for their ability to liven up a shady corner of the yard.
Even deep shade doesn’t phase them much. And we aren’t talking about adding just a bit of greenery to a shady spot. Oh no, we’re talking vibrant mounds of pink, white, and purple.
Apparently, there are a lot of people who are looking to add easygoing color to their shady spots, because impatiens used to be the most popular bedding plant in the US.
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But during the early 2010s, impatiens started to fall out of favor because they were hit so hard by downy mildew.
Instead of being the old shade-brightening reliable we know and love, the bedding plants that were a standby in nurseries started to become a liability throughout the majority of North America.
Now, pretty impatiens are ready for their comeback thanks to new cultivars and preventative techniques that growers are implementing.
Ready to find out how you can bring impatiens to your space? Let’s dig in!
Cultivation and HistoryThe ornamental impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) that we know and love are originally from eastern Africa, though other species in the genus are native to Asia or North America.
Impatiens are sometimes called jewelweed, busy Lizzie, patience, or touch-me-not.
Impatiens is a reference to the plant’s impatient nature. It’s a Latin word that describes the method by which the plant reseeds itself. When the seeds are ready, they explode in a firecracker-like burst at the slightest touch.
There are many plants in the genus, including:
Kashmir balsam (I. balfourii) Garden balsam (I. balsamina) Spotted jewelweed (I.If you look up during the winter, when all the deciduous trees have dropped their leaves, you might spot something still growing up there, tucked in the bare branches.It might be mistletoe, that beautiful parasite that we smooc
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