Valuable source of nectar and pollen for honey bees.

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Impatiens are a popular choice for good bloom in shade conditions. Some types are now sold as sun tolerant but I didn't find them so in my yard. They did survive with daily watering, but did not thrive like those in more shade.

Started early from seed or as purchased plants, they bloom heavily over an extended period. They can add a much needed splash of bright color in shady areas. Available in a multitude of colors, including bicolors. They attract hummingbirds. They do well in hanging baskets on my mostly shady porch, luring the hummingbirds close, where we can watch their antics.

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The wild species grow much taller than the commercially sold ones,
This one grew nearly 3 ft (90cm) tall!!

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I'm often surprised to see wonderful beds of impatiens growing in sunnier locations here than i would have formerly thought possible. Those I pictured here are in a city park and only get shade mid-day. They do get regular overhead watering. I think that often things we consider shade plants such as impatiens, hosta, and tuberous begonias prosper when getting some good bright morning and evening sun and do not do as well in deeper shade.

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Many years ago I had flower beds full of Impatiens walleriana but I haven't grown them in a long time. Here in my central Florida garden they did best in almost full shade and seemed to require a lot of water.

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"Impatiens walleriana, also known as busy Lizzie, balsam or simply impatiens, is a species of the genus Impatiens, native to eastern Africa from Kenya to Mozambique. It is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant growing to 15–60 cm tall, with broad lanceolate leaves 3–12 cm long and 2–5 cm broad. Leaves are mostly alternate, although they may be opposite near the top of the plant. The flowers are profusely borne, 2–5 cm diameter, with five petals and a 1 cm spur. The seedpod explodes when ripe in the same manner as other Impatiens species, an evolutionary adaptation for seed dispersal.

Although perennial in frost-free growing conditions, it is usually treated as a half-hardy annual in temperate regions (though pot-grown plants can be successfully overwintered indoors). It is commonly cultivated in parks and gardens, typically grown in containers but also in bedding schemes. Propagation is by seed or stem cuttings (which often root readily in water). Numerous cultivars in a range of colours from white to purple, are widely available commercially, either as seeds or young plants.

Impatiens downy mildew has spread widely in recent years and has seriously damaged the commercial production of I. walleriana hybrids."

Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I...

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