Is There Any Impatiens That Tolerates Full Sun?

Balsam

• Fashions come and go in plants as well as in clothes, and balsam (I. balsamina) is an old-fashioned annual not often seen in today's gardens. However, it's an easy-to-grow impatiens species for sunny gardens. Growing 12 to 30 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide, balsam thrives in hot, sunny gardens, although south of U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 8, balsam appreciates afternoon shade. Pink, white, salmon and purple cultivars are available and easily started from seed. The flowers appear all along the stem, not just near the ends as on I. walleriana. Allow a few balsam plants to go to seed and you'll have volunteers every year.

New Guinea Impatiens

• New Guinea impatiens are a beefier, bolder cousin to regular impatiens. These plants grow 1 to 2 feel tall and wide, with 4- to 8-inch leaves variegated with purple, yellow or red. The flowers are large and showy and come in almost every color but green and true blue. Grow New Guinea impatiens in full sun in most areas of the country. In the southern tier of states, they do best with morning sun and afternoon shade. New Guinea impatiens are labeled both as I. hawkeri and as I. x New Guinea Hybrids.

SunPatiens

• A recent introduction from Japanese plant breeders Sakata, SunPatiens are a hybrid between New Guinea impatiens and one of the many wild impatiens species. These tall impatiens grow best in full to partial sun; in shade, they become leggy and require a midsummer shearing. SunPatiens have medium-size flowers in shades of salmon, lavender, white, pink and red. SunPatiens grow 24 to 30 inches tall, although more compact, 18- to 24-inch cultivars are also available.

Growing Impatiens

• All impatiens require evenly moist soil and are intolerant of drought, so if your soil is lean or sandy, incorporate large amounts of organic material such as compost or peat moss into the soil before planting. Water them often enough to keep the soil moist but not soggy and mulch the plants to conserve moisture. They need extra watering during extended heat spells and in windy weather. Feed impatiens with a fertilizer specially formulated for flowering garden plants. There is no need to deadhead, as the flowers fall away cleanly when finished.