More than 1,000 different species of impatiens make up all but one species in the family Balsaminaceae (the other is the monotypic, or single-species genus, Hydrocera triflora).
Out of this wide-ranging genus comes Impatiens hawkeri (im-PAY-shenz HAWK-er-i), commonly called the New Guinea impatiens after its native range of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
New Guinea impatiens (sometimes also called touch-me-not or simply impatiens) is a wonderful, long-blooming perennial that’s often grown as an annual.
After an initial failed attempt to introduce New Guinea impatiens to the US in the early 1970s.
The plant has become the source of numerous cultivars (Sunpatiens) and is now one of the most common species of impatiens throughout the US.
Some of these cultivars include:
- Bonfire Orange
- Celebrate Peach
- Celebrate Salmon – bold salmon-pink flowers
- Celebration Apricot
- Celebration Bonfire Orange
- Celebration Light Lavender
- Celebration Light Salmon
- Sonic Magic Pink – big, candy-pink flowers
New Guinea Impatiens Quick Care Tips
- Botanical Name: Impatiens hawkeri
- Common Name(s): New Guinea Impatiens
- Synonyms: Impatiens x hawkeri
- Family & Origin: Balsaminaceae family, native to New Guinea and the Solomon Islands
- Growability: Easy to grow
- Grow Zone: USDA zones 10-12
- Size: Grows up to 2′ feet tall and wide
- Flowering: Blooms from spring to fall
- Light: Prefers partial shade to full sun
- Humidity: Thrives in high humidity
- Temperature: Prefers temperatures between 70°-85°F
- Soil: Well-draining soil with organic matter and mildly acidic pH of 6.0 to 6.5
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged
- Fertilizer: Use a balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during growing season
- Pests & Diseases: Susceptible to aphids, spider mites, and fungal diseases
- Propagation: Propagated through stem cuttings or by seed
- Plant Uses: Great for adding color to garden beds, borders, and containers. Can also be used as a houseplant.
New Guinea Impatiens Care
Size and Growth
These plants tend to be on the smaller side, usually only reaching a rounded 12″ to 18″ inches tall.
When grown as a perennial, the plant will last for several years.
It has larger dark green foliage when compared with the common impatiens, which are oblong to lanceolate.
The leaves of New Guinea impatiens may turn burgundy, stay a dark green, or have variegated foliage.
The leaves are arranged in an opposite or whorled pattern and have serrated edges.
New Guinea Impatiens Flowers
New Guinea plant tends to bloom early, lasting from late spring through summer like a colorful annual and potentially everblooming when raised as a perennial.
Larger Flowers of New Guinea Hybrids: The colorful blooms, like the leaves, are larger than other common species and have 4 to 5 petals in an array of colors, including:
- Blue
- Brown
- Burgundy
- Lavender
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple
- Red
- White
- Yellow
The flowers of new guinea impatiens produce small, ribbed, explosive seed capsules.
Light and Temperature
This impatiens enjoys full sun to partial shade but will have fewer blooms if they get too much or too little sun.
A nice spot where the plant gets full morning sun and partial afternoon shade tends to work best for outdoor plants.
- The dappled afternoon sun is an excellent alternative.
- For indoor plants, bright, indirect light will also work well.
- Indoor plants will work well in normal household humidity.
- Outdoor plants may suffer during particularly arid weather.
It’s possible to grow New Guinea impatiens as an outdoor perennial in USDA zones 10 to 12.
Avoid planting them outdoors as an annual until night temperatures remain above 45° degrees Fahrenheit.
Indoors (or when taking potted perennials outside), aim for daytime temperatures between 70° and 85° degrees Fahrenheit and overnight temperatures of 55° to 65° degrees Fahrenheit.
Bring potted specimens indoors if the forecast predicts a drop below 55° degrees Fahrenheit or any danger of frost.
You can also grow your impatiens as an indoor plant in a bright spot indoors.
Watering, Moisture, and Feeding
It’s best to ensure your impatiens have evenly, consistently moist soil, as they are not drought-tolerant.
Avoid allowing the soil to dry out completely, as this can cause loss of flowers and possible wilting. However, overwatering can lead to root rot.
A good rule of thumb for potted plants is to wait until the soil is dry about 2″ inches down.
Water the soil directly (drip irrigation), avoiding a top-down approach to reduce the risk of fungal infections.
You’ll want to pour slowly, covering the whole radius of the pot until water begins to seep from the drainage holes.
Reduce watering in colder temperatures.
Feed your impatiens a complete water-soluble fertilizer in the lowest dose and rate listed on the package, preferably after watering.
For outdoor plants, go with slow-release fertilizer mixed into the soil when planting.
What Soil Type Do New Guinea Impatiens Enjoy?
This plant prefers rich, loamy, well-drained soil. Potting soil with plenty of organic matter works really well, and orchid mixes are a great choice.
The pH isn’t important, although your impatiens will thrive when the soil has a mildly acidic pH of 6.0 to 6.5.
When planting outdoors, add plenty of compost or other organic matter to the soil and top it off with some mulch.
If transplanting outdoors as an annual, make sure the plant sits at the same soil level as it did in its pot.
Perennial specimens will benefit from a soil change every other year.
Grooming And Maintenance
Beyond weeding, this plant has low maintenance requirements when grown as an annual.
As a perennial, prune away dead leaves for a better appearance. Keep overgrown and leggy Impatiens plants compact with regular pruning.
How To Propagate Impatiens
Propagating this plant through seeds is generally discouraged if you have a cultivar for two reasons:
- In many cases, the seedlings are sterile or may revert to the parent species.
- Some sports are trademarked, which makes it illegal to propagate without permission from the trademark holder.
That said, stem cuttings of Impatiens are incredibly easy to propagate from, both from Impatiens hawkeri and from any non-trademarked cultivars.
Cuttings is the easiest propagation method for your new guinea impatiens.
New Guinea Impatiens Pests or Diseases
New Guinea impatiens are very hardy plants with moderate heat tolerance and resistance to downy mildew.
However, overwatering can leave this plant open to several problems, such as fungal blight, powdery mildew, various forms of rot, and spot virus.
While the usual pests (aphids, caterpillars, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, etc.) can infest impatiens, they’re not a major threat.
As with all impatiens, touch-me-not are non-toxic to cats and dogs but may cause mild diarrhea and vomiting if humans or pets ingest the plant.
That said, the plant is edible if cooked properly.
Impatiens Hawkeri Uses
New Guinea impatiens produce a lot of nectar, making it a perfect addition for butterfly gardens or attracting beneficial insects and pollinators like butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
The leaves are traditionally mixed with Plectranthus scutellarioides and used as a rub to reduce labor pains and are also cooked and given as a remedy for stomach aches.
They look excellent as stand-alone plants in outdoor containers. Disney World uses this popular bedding plant in mass plantings landscapes with great success.
New Guinea impatiens also make a great pairing with begonias, caladium, and hostas.
When growing as a perennial, they look stunning in hanging baskets, planters, or on a shelf. As an annual, it’s perfect for seasonal flower beds and shade borders.
It also makes a nice houseplant if you have a sunny south-facing window with lots of bright sunlight.
Bringing your impatiens indoors during the wintertime is a great way to protect them and brighten up your home through the dreary winter months.