Impatiens top the list of summer flowers for the shade garden. But now there are even sun-tolerant types, which make impatiens the flower of choice for the entire landscape.
Here at MSU’s Truck Crops Experiment Station we’ve built a new shade bed under large oaks so that we can evaluate newer varieties. One of the new impatiens varieties we’re testing is the Jambalaya. We’re also testing rose form impatiens selections, like this new Silhouette salmon and the series with the catchy name, the Rockapulco.
We also have the really large-flowered New Guinea impatiens. If you thought New Guinea impatiens couldn’t be grown in the hot and humid south, the rare, blue-colored Celebrette Icy Blue and the deeply color saturated Super Sonics will certainly change your mind.
Now, what if I told you there were also New Guinea impatiens for the full sun? You probably wouldn’t believe me. Well, this MSU trial planting box shows the entire color range and habit available in the SunPatiens series. This New Guinea impatiens series is designed to grow in full sun. They are available in one spreading, 5 compact and 6 vigorous selections.
This is the second year I’ve grown SunPatiens at my home. Here, the SunPatiens Vigorous Red is flanked by Superdwarf Cavendish bananas and partnered with the lower growing Gold Mound duranta and the taller Electric Lime coleus for a really bold display.
Whether you’re growing a shade or a sun variety, keep your impatiens watered and fed, and they really will bloom right up until cold weather arrives. I’m Norman Winter for Southern Gardening.
Back to Southern Gardening Television home page