The Garden.org Plants Database

This was a selection by Derick Pitman ("Mr. Impatiens"), and named for a friend. It is a bit of a pity it is pink and not red, but the stems sure are red.
Just as easy as the species, but growing maybe not quite as tall.

From San Marcos Growers:
" Impatiens sodenii 'Robert the Red' (Dark Stemmed Shrub Balsam) - A frost tender shrub (often treated as a perennial) that can grow as large as 5 feet tall by 6 feet wide. It has a woody base and semi-succulent dark red stems bearing 8-inch-long dark green leaves in whorls. At the tips of the stems are the showy 3 inch wide rich pink flowers with slender spurs. The flowers bloom throughout the year at first emerging a darker pink and fading to pale pink - we also grow the species, Impatiens sodenii which has green stems and paler pink flowers.
This large Impatiens does best in a well-drained soil in light shade or morning sun, but at the coast it will grow in full sun. It grows rapidly when watered regularly in warmer gardens to occasionally along the coast, where with a little protection it is tolerant of seaside conditions. Although it is hardy to only about 30 degrees F, limiting it to the nearly frost-free areas (USDA 10-11), plants damaged by a frost will often resprout at the base and seed can perpetuate the plant as an annual in even colder climates. Prune annually after frost danger is past to shape and remove cold-damaged stems then only tip prune the rest of the year; avoid cutting back hard as this discourages flowering.
The species Impatiens sodenii is native to the tropical East African highlands between 3,000 and 8,000 ft. elevation in Kenya and Tanzania. The name for the genus is from the Latin word 'impatientem' which means "unable to wait patiently" or "desiring immediate action" in reference to the sudden dehiscence of the of the fruit capsules. The common name "touch-me-not" sometimes used for plants in the genus is in reference what is sometimes called an explosive dehiscence of seed. The specific epithet honors Julius, Freiherr von Soden (1846-1921), who was governor of several German colonies in Africa and founder of the Central Botanical Office for the German Colonies. This plant has long been known by the name Impatiens oliveri, a name honoring the British botanist Daniel Oliver (1830-1916) and it is also commonly called Poor Man's Rhododendron and Oliver's Touch-Me-Not.
We purchased this cultivar from Annies Annuals nursery who notes that this plant came to them from Derick Pitman and we grow the light pink flowering species plant Impatiens sodenii and the white flowering cultivar Impatiens sodenii 'Madonna'."

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When conditions are right this plant reacts to touch like Mimosa.

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When conditions are right this plant is sensitive to touch, and sometimes the leaflets just move suddenly on their own.

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This was an introduction by Cistus Nursery of Portland from one plant found in nature.

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A found Callianthe from Monterey Bay Nursery, they introduced it in 2020. It has a charm that makes it popular.
MBN said:
"… medium size flowers flare to bell-shaped, coral with prominent bright red veins and darkish sepals. A found seedling, looks like it could be 'Tiger Eye' x 'Lil Red' (A. megapotamicum type) or some similar cross judging by its flower color pattern, stem color, semivining habit and longer, denser leaves."

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This tasty Callianthe from Monterey Bay Nursery was released in 2005.

They gushed:
" …Not just pink, not just orange, but pink and orange all at the same time! It's incredible! The flowers can be held almost horizontally, flower stems tend towards a nicely contrasting maroon, and the large leaves are very dark green. This more vigorous growing variety will probably easily get 6-8' unpruned. A branch sport off our own 'Watermelon Candy'."

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A very good pink Callianthe, introduced in 2008 by Monterey Bay Nursery.

From their catalog:
" a moderately fast, upright grower, with strong, clear pink flowers, fading to white in the centers and with a big cluster of showy yellow stamens. Flower stems are robust and display the new flowers almost horizontally at first, then they droop gracefully as they mature. Sepals are light chartreuse, big, soft leaves are almost oval with maple-like leaflets. A seedling found and grown at Talini's Nursery."

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A Callianthe megapotamica selection that is noticeably better than the species.

Monterey Bay Nursery thinks:
" essentially horizontal growth, with small, narrow, partially cut, dark green leaves closely set along dark branches. Small, narrow-waisted flowers are deep golden yellow, emerging from pale orange red sepals. Even the dark red columns in the center of the flower are showy and provide even more contrast. This is another variety noteworthy for considerable bloom vigor, and is best featured with some kind of support. It looks good against a fence or along a trellis and is especially exceptional in containers or hanging baskets, situated so you can look into the flowers from below. Despite its natural strongly horizontal habit, this makes an excellent small upright shrub if staked and just an outstanding standard (tree form) but only with firm discipline. A real favorite of hummingbirds."

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Another great Callianthe from the breeding program at Monterey Bay Nursery (this in 2005).

From MBN:
" a vigorous upright grower of small texture and compact habit, with oval dark green leaves and very dark stems. The slightly flared flowers are a dark watermelon pink, have dark sepals, and are very heavily produced all along the branches. This variety has a high flower/leaf value. To 4-6'."

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A great Callianthe megapotamica, introduced in 2005 from Monterey Bay Nursery.

They say:
"this hybrid is mostly megapotamicum, and a very heavy bloomer with small, glossy, dark orange red flowers with even darker red veins. The pendant flowers are sometimes partially flared, with petals that often twist around on one edge to reveal the brighter interior color, and hence the name. But others open almost completely flat so that their petals are widely horizontal. A fast, vining grower with thin, scanent stems and long, dark green leaves, easly reaching to 4-7' and stretching longer if it has something to lay upon."

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