Impatiens - the other species

Discussion in 'Members Gallery' started by PeterS, Jun 20, 2011.

  1. PeterS

    PeterS Total Gardener

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    It was only relatively recently that I realised that there was more to the Impatiens genus that just the ubiquitous Busy Lizzie. In fact it is a huge genus and there are serious Impatiens enthusiasts.

    Having recently bought a I. niamniamensis, and then borrowed a book on the genus from the library, I thought I would have a closer look, and show some of my results here

    Species. There are about 1000 different Impatiens species. They are so named in recognition of their impatience, in respect of the explosive way in which the seed capsule opens and distributes its seeds. They are also known as Touch-me-not.

    Origin. Most Impatiens come from warmer climes, but are found at altitudes between 3,000 and 10,000 feet where they like the cooler temperatures. They mainly originate from Africa, the Himalayas, India, and South East Asia.

    Virtually all the species like damp, shady conditions. very often growing in mountain forests near streams. The fact that so many don't like the heat at a lower level means that many species are cut off from each other in isolated mountain peaks and often only grow in one single location. This isolation has let to the large number of species, but isolation also means that many species are unable to hybridise with each other.

    Propagation. The common Busy Lizzies can be easily propagated by seed. But for many other species this is not so easy. In some cases its a matter of seed viability, which might be measured in weeks and sometimes only days. But for most, they come from areas which experience cold conditions over the winter, and these conditions must be replicated before the seeds will germinate. So stratification (cold treatment) is often neccessary. However cuttings are generally easy to take, and this is the main method of propagation.

    Overwintering. Many species, like the Busy Lizzie, are tender perennials but are quite easy to overwinter. As they come from high altitudes, they do not need high temperatures, and they also like the lower light levels of partial or full shade. This makes them suitable for overwintering inside the house.

    Common species. There are probably three species that everyone knows.

    [​IMG]
    Photo: 'www.gardenstew.com'

    The first is I. walleriana (above). This is the common Busy Lizzie. It was introduced into cultivation in 1896 from the island of Zanzibar, though it occurs in other parts of Africa as well. Its a tender perennial, which is often grown as an annual, though its not difficult to overwinter inside the house. Since its introduction it has been extensively hybridised and must be the most commonly cultivated plant in the history of horticulture.

    As I don't have photos of most of these plants I have had to direct this thread to photos I found on the internet. I hope that by giving credit, I won't upset anyone.

    [​IMG]
    Photo: 'www.danheller.com'

    The second common species is the New Guinea hybrid, shown above. This is I. hawkeri, a tender perennial, which as its name suggests come from New Guinea. It wasn't until 1970 that this was hybridised with some other species from the same area to produce a plant that is similar to the Busy Lizzie, but larger (up to 3 feet tall) with bigger, more attractive, deep green and bronze leaves. These two species account for the vast majority of Impatiens that are cultivated.


    [​IMG]
    Photo: 'flora.nhm-wien.ac' - I. glandulifera

    The last of the common species is I. glandulifera (Himalayan Balsam), which some may not even recognise as an Impatiens. This is a tall, robust , annual species from the Asia. It was introduced as a garden plant, but has escaped and naturalised in many areas of Europe and the USA and become an invasive weed.

    [​IMG]
    Photo: luirig.altervista.org - I noli-tangere

    Other, somewhat less common ones are I. balsamina, which was also popular as a garden plant in the past, but not seen much now. And I. noli-tangere (don't touch) - shown above, which is the only UK native species.

    Other species - for the garden.

    According to my book 'Impatiens' by Raymond Morgan, there are a number of species that are, surprisingly, hardy in warmer parts of the UK.

    [​IMG]
    Photo : 'www.strangewonderfulthings.com' - I. tinctoria

    I. tinctoria is one. Its a tuberous perennial that can grow up to 6 feet. Its hardy in the south, so you can leave it in the ground, or you can treat it like a Dahlia and lift the tuber in the autumn.

    [​IMG]
    Photo: 'the Irish garden' - I. scabrida

    I. scabrida and I. edgworthii are two other reliably hardy, long flowering perennials from Kashmir that grow to about 3 feet.

    Other species - patio/houseplants.

    [​IMG]
    Photo: 'www.strangewonderfulthings.com' - I. niamniamensis

    I. niamniamensis is one that I bought recently. Its a short lived tender perennial from Africa, happiest in some shade. The leaves tend to scorch white if it gets too much sun.

    Its sometimes epiphytic - that is to say that it grows on the branches of trees, picking up nourishment and moisture from aerial roots that find what little bits of soil they can in nooks and cranies. That's not to be confused with parasitic, like mistletoe, where the roots bore into the host tree and extract nutrients. Epiphytic Impatiens seem to grow quite happily in compost in containers

    [​IMG]
    Photo: 'www.strangewonderfulthings.com' - I. bequaertii

    I. bequaertii is a trailing perennial from the rainforests of West Africa.

    [​IMG]
    Photo: 'www.strangewonderfulthings.com' - I. claeri

    I. claeri is another plant that would make a first class house plant.

    [​IMG]
    Photo: 'www.strangewonderfulthings.com' - I. namchabarwensis

    I. namchabarwensis is from Tibet, and is possibly the bluest of all Impatiens species. Only discovered in 2003, this grows to 18 inches and like so many Impatiens it flowers almost all year round, if protected from frost.

    [​IMG]
    Photo: 'www.strangewonderfulthings.com' - I. morsei

    Another tender perennial that flowers all year round. This one is from China.

    It seems that most Impatiens are easy to look after. The biggest problem appears to be locating them. Bilbo 675 informed me that Dibleys Nurseries Seeds and Rhizomes sells a few. There will be others around - but you will have to search for them.

    Edit - replace missing picture of scabrida
     
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    • Aesculus

      Aesculus Bureaucrat 34 (Admin)

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      Impatien's are a huge and fascinating genus ^^ although busy Lizzie's are hideous:eeew: everytime I see them it makes me think of horrible 60's style council bedding at seaside resorts:rolleyespink:

      also I was at Dibley's only the other week it's a fabulous place and guy that runs it is brilliant! so enthusiastic and knowledgeable it was a real treat to meet him and get a tour around his nursery, unfortunatley I didn't have my camera with me but I will see if I can get some photo's from friends who I was with:thumb:
       
    • Clematis

      Clematis Gardener

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      I've got some trailing Impatiens - can't wait to see how they turn out. Never heard of trailers before.
       
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      • longk

        longk Total Gardener

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        It's a wonderful genus!

        I have seeds for I.balfouri, and have been promised some for I.tinctoria. Only this week, a member from another forum sent me a "gift box" that included a small I.kilimanjari which is starting to look good now that it has recovered.

        I must admit though, I do hate Bizzy Lizzies!
         
      • Tiarella

        Tiarella Optimistic Gardener

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        I'm stunned and amazed. Like lots of you, I'm not keen on bizzy lizzies, but I do have seeds for I. balsamina which I'm looking forward to planting in the Spring.
         
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        • catztail

          catztail Crazy Cat Lady

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          Busy lizzies are horrible insipid things but some of those impatiens are lovely little flowers!
           
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          • redstar

            redstar Total Gardener

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            Wow. What a lovely lesson on this genus. I do have the
            flora.nhm-wien.ac' - I. glandulifera
            and they grow so prolific in my garden I just yank them out to keep the amount I prefer to visualize. They reseed like crazy and come up masterfully each year. Of course I by the well known ones, such as your first picture, and depending on how many I put in as babies I do see some seeds that have made it through the winter coming up in cracks and crevises. Will have to look up the others and see if I can get seeds. I love finding the yellow ones in the green houses, which are rare. Thank you for your time to showing this, PeterS.
             
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            • Bilbo675

              Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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              Great stuff that Peter, I have two I.niamniamensis plants that I got from Dibley's and although slow to settle and get going after planting them up they are now thriving on my kitchen windowsill which is south-east facing, they don't seem to need huge pots either but do like to be kept reasonably moist. My plants are now about 2ft tall and have been flowering prolificially for the last 3 months :thumb:

              I've got seed for I.tinctoria to sow in the spring, only a few so hopefully I'll get at least one plant going, fingers crossed :D

              I've just grown a few plants of I.balsamina from seed kindly given to me by Dawn, these are wonderful little plants that can either be grown as houseplants at anytime or as tropical bedding. The flowers are very variable, from pink through to red and purple, some with white throats and some semi-double. My plants flowered on a sunny windowsill for weeks and weeks and are just finished, I'm currently collecting seed from them :thumb:

              Another one I collected seed from is I.capensis, I collected the seed from plants growing alongside our local canal;
              http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/general-gardening-discussion/36191-impatiens-capensis.html

              I have grown I.balfourii in the past and its a wonderful little plant, need to get more seed :thumb:

              So many more than just the 'bizzies' :D
               
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              • longk

                longk Total Gardener

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                "I have grown I.balfourii in the past and its a wonderful little plant, need to get more seed"

                Bilbo - pm me an address as I have spare seed.
                 
              • Penny in Ontario

                Penny in Ontario Total Gardener

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                Some of those are just stunning!
                 
              • Gay Gardener

                Gay Gardener Total Gardener

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                Some handsome plants there.

                However, I really like the much-scorned workhorse of many gardens the busy lizzie as well !
                 
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                • longk

                  longk Total Gardener

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                  • PeterS

                    PeterS Total Gardener

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                    That's very different LongK. In fact it looks a bit sinister. :thud: A cross between the Klu Klux Klan and Jeremy Clarkson - perhaps. With apologies in advance to the KKK.
                     
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                    • longk

                      longk Total Gardener

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                      I thought that it was rather cool too Peter S!
                       
                    • Phil A

                      Phil A Guest

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                      Looks like its curtains for Busy Lizzies.

                      The nov issue of The Garden contained a report on resistant Downy Mildew.

                      Wiping out plants in the nurseries, before they even get to the Gardener.
                       
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