New Guinea impatiens is an herbaceous annual in the balsam family (Balsaminaceae), native to the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, that was introduced into the United States in the 1970s by plant collectors from the USDA and Longwood Gardens. The genus name comes from the Latin impatiens meaning impatient and refers to the sudden seed discharge from the ripe pods. The species epithet honors Lt. Hawker of the British Royal Navy, who collected the plant in Papua New Guinea in 1884. It has a mounding form and will grow 6 to 20 inches tall. It has multiple cultivars and is often confused with common impatiens . This impatiens plant will grow in full sun to deep shade but performs best in partial shade and in well-drained, moist soils supplemented with organic matter. The more sun it receives, the more water it will require. It is resistant to downy mildew. Propagate it by seed in soil that is 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit for successful germination. Its flowers come in a range of colors and bloom from spring through fall. Use New Guinea impatiens in hanging baskets and containers to accent a patio, poolside hardscape, or small space. In small groups the plant makes a colorful border, walkway, or foundation planting. It is stunning as a mass planting and attracts butterflies. Quick ID Hints: Flowers have a conspicuous, elongated spur. Lateral sepals are suborbicular, broad, and acuminate. Leaves have stalked glands on teeth rising above the leaf plane. Underside of the leaves is often red or purple. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Some cultivars have shown good to excellent resistance to phytophthora and leaf spot. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Mounding
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite; Whorled
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Serrate
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are opposite to whorled, ovate to elliptic to lanceolate, crenate with minute stalked glands rising upward, acute to subauminate, green with tinge of bronze or purple, or variegated.
Flower color
Orange; Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower detail
Flowers are solitary on elongated pedicels and are conspicuously spurred. They are calyx with 5 lobes, 2 lateral lobes are green, broad oval, and acuminate. Petals are of anthrocyanin pigments. Spur is prominent.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Fruits are explosive capsules rolling suddenly inward, and have a ribbed, rubbery-succulent texture.
Stem detail
Stems are suberect to decumbent, branching, and bear leaves.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Solomon Island, New Guinea, and New Ireland
Attracts
Butterflies
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Colorful
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Container; Hanging Baskets; Patio; Pool/Hardscape; Small Space; Walkways
Design feature
Border; Foundation Planting; Mass Planting; Small groups