Types of Impatiens Flowers: New Guinea, Walleriana, and Double Impatiens (Pictures)

Impatiens flowers are colorful tender perennials that tolerate shade and can thrive in partial sun. Colorful Impatiens flowers can be in shades of pink, purple, orange, red, and white. 

Impatiens walleriana is the shade-loving species of flowering impatiens. New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) are a hybrid called sun impatiens because they also tolerate more sun. Some varieties have been crossed with other impatiens varieties to be drought-tolerant. 

Impatiens flowers are grown as annuals and the best time for planting them is at the end of May. This is when the soil is warm and all risk of frost has passed. As a result, the fast-growing flowering plants will already be in bloom by late spring and early summer. Because of their long-blooming time, you can expect impatiens to fill your yard with color throughout the season. 

With their beautiful colored flowers, impatiens plants also go by the names jewelweed, snapweed, touch-me-not, and patience. In some countries, impatiens plants are called busy lizzies due to their fast growth and spreading nature.  

Impatiens Flowers

Impatiens are some of the best annual flowers that bloom all summer long until fall. The colorful blooms of impatiens plants generally have five petals. However, some varieties of impatiens are double blooms and have spectacular showy flowers. 

Impatiens flowers are ideal for growing in herbaceous borders, mass planting, foundation planting, container gardens, hanging baskets, or window boxes. In tropical regions, impatiens grow as tender flowering perennials. You can plant impatiens every year as annuals in mid to late spring for all summer flowering in most areas.

Impatiens flowers grow best when planted in loose, well-drained soil and growing in partial shade to full shade. To enjoy the best flowering, impatiens plants typically require plenty of water. However, as long as soil drainage is good and they are in partial shade, you should have pink, lavender, white, violet, orange, and red flowers from late spring until early fall. 

Types of Impatiens Flower

The two main varieties of impatiens grown for their colorful blooms are Impatiens walleriana and New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri). 

Impatiens walleriana are shade-loving, annual herbaceous plants with symmetrical flowers measuring 0.8” to 2” (2 – 5 cm). The five-petalled flowers can be brilliant white, deep red, dark purple, or lighter pastel shades. Many of the Impatiens walleriana series include the flower color in their names, and there are double bloom varieties.

Some examples of colorful impatiens include: 

• Compact Electric Orange
• Spreading Variegated Salmon
• Sun Harmony Deep Orange
• Divine Violet
• Red Star
• Blackberry Ice

New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) are flowering annuals that survive in full sun to full shade. The low-growing blooming plants were designed to thrive in all weather conditions. The attractive New Guinea impatiens flowers have four to five petals. 

Some examples of colorful impatiens that include the colors are the following: 

• Sun Harmony Pink Baby
• Harmony Violet
• Sunstanding Glowing Scarlet
• Sunstanding Coral Aurora
• Paradise Rose Flair

How Much Sun Do Impatiens Need?

Impatiens flowers perform best in partial shade. This means they thrive when they get two to four hours of dappled sunlight during the day. However, it’s also best to give impatiens plants protection in the intense midday sunshine. Impatiens will grow in full shade, but they will have fewer blooms.

Impatiens can thrive in full sun to partial shade if you plant varieties of New Guinea impatiens flowers. These sun-hardy, drought tolerant cultivars can withstand around six hours of direct sunlight daily. Additionally, they will also grow well in partial shade. 

Are Impatiens Perennials or Annuals?

Impatiens are tender perennials that are typically grown as annuals. Only in USDA zones 10 and 11 can impatiens flowers survive in the garden throughout the year. The minimum temperature for impatiens growing outdoors is 40°F (4°C). Growing impatiens as annuals allows you to change the color of your landscape every year.

Impatiens are colorful flowering plants for Florida’s climate because they thrive in humid climates. However, the self-seeding nature of impatiens tends to make impatiens invasive in some areas. 

What Are Double Impatiens?

Double impatiens are spectacular flowering annuals with showy blooms. Double impatiens flowers typically have several rows of ruffled petals. These double blooms can be pastel pink, vibrant red, magenta, pale pink, and multicolored pink and white. New varieties of double impatiens are also spectacular blooms in golden yellow colors. 

About New Guinea Impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) 

New Guinea impatiens bright orange, pink, lavender, red, and coral flowers grow in compact, sun-loving shrub-like plants. The flowers on New Guinea hybrids measure around 2” (5 cm) in diameter and don’t wilt in strong sunshine. The attractive New Guinea impatiens grow around 1 to 2 ft. (30 – 60 cm) tall. 

Types of New Guinea Impatiens Flowers (With Pictures)

‘ColorPower Burgundy’ New Guinea Impatiens

ColorPower Burgundy New Guinea impatiens hybrids flower colors are deep red to bright pink. The reddish-pink blooms have five heart-shaped petals contrasting with the lanceolate, toothed leaves. The mounding shrub-like heat-tolerant red flowers thrive in sunny conditions and moist, well-drained ground. The red impatiens flowers bloom from May until the first frost.

‘Painted Paradise Orange’ New Guinea Impatiens

‘Painted Paradise Orange’ is an attractive flowering New Guinea impatiens hybrid with deep orange flowers and variegated green and yellow leaves. The orange impatiens blooms measure 2” to 3” (5 – 7.5 cm) across and add warm colors in a summer and fall garden. 

Apart from the attractive flowers, the outstanding feature of ‘Painted Paradise Orange’ is the variegated pointed leaves with a yellow center and red veins. 

‘Celebration Rose’ New Guinea Impatiens

‘Celebration Rose’ impatiens flowers are large deep pink vibrant flowers with an attractive yellow-pink stamen in the center. The magenta-pink flowers on this compact New Guinea impatiens plant bloom profusely in full sun to partial shade. When in full color during summer and fall, the disc-shaped flowers almost cover the plant. 

This pink-flowering impatiens plant is ideal for mass planting, hanging baskets, container planting, and border edging.

‘Harmony Orange’ New Guinea Impatiens

‘Harmony Orange’ New Guinea impatiens has bold orange flowers made up of five petals forming a rounded disc shape. The spectacular orange impatiens blooms fill gardens with color from mid spring until the fall. The bright orange hues of the flowers contrast with the dark green lance-shaped leaves and red stems. 

‘Superpatience Blanc’ New Guinea Impatiens

The ‘Superpatience Blanc’ New Guinea impatiens hybrid flowers are pure white, rounded blossoms with heart-shaped petals. One of the features of this compact impatiens plant is the pronounced yellowish teeth along the margins of the pointed, lanceolate leaves. 

Like all varieties of New Guinea impatiens, the white flowers grow on a compact, bushy plant. ‘Superpatience Blanc’ is ideal for planting in containers, borders, mass planting, and hanging baskets. When spaced 12” (30 cm) apart, this white-flowering impatiens is perfect for fast-growing ground cover in partial sun. 

‘Celebration Electric Pink’ New Guinea Impatiens

‘Celebration Electric Pink’ is a vigorous, well-branched impatiens plant with spectacular pink flowers forming a disc shape. The five heart-shaped petals have shades of white, and the pink impatiens flowers have a deep crimson red center. The large pink flowers cover the mounding impatiens plant when in bloom, even in high heat and sunshine.

The New Guinea impatiens Celebration series also has blooms in pastel shades of lilac, orange, red, and salmon-pink. 

‘Sonic Red’ New Guinea Impatiens

‘Sonic Red’ impatiens flowers are bright red blossoms set among rich green foliage to create an excellent border plant. These attractive impatiens annuals grow 1 to 2 ft. (30 – 60 cm) tall and add a vibrant pop of color to summer and fall garden landscapes. Use colorful red and green plants along borders, hanging baskets, mass plantings, and containers. 

‘Sonic Light Lavender’ New Guinea Impatiens

The New Guinea impatiens hybrid ‘Sonic Light Lavender’ flowers are large, pale lilac blossoms consisting of five heart-shaped petals. Light-colored lavender impatiens flowers help to brighten up a summer and fall garden landscape. Additionally, the landscaping bedding plant contrasts the light lilac flowers with dark green foliage. 

The purple-pink mounded plant should be spaced 12” apart for best results. The best blooming occurs in partial sun or partial shade. 

‘Sonic Sweet Cherry’ New Guinea Impatiens

‘Sonic Sweet Cherry’ impatiens flowers are bi-colored blooms with pale pink and bright cherry red colors. The stunning 3-inch (7.5 cm) bold flowers provide a bright splash of color in shaded gardens and will also perform well in dappled sunlight. Impatiens in the Sonic series grow 1 to 1.5 ft. (30 – 45 cm) tall.

The vigorous mounding habit of the New Guinea impatiens plant makes this hybrid ideal for landscaping borders, container gardens, patios, and mixed beds. 

‘Sonic Deep Purple’ New Guinea Impatiens

‘Sonic Deep Purple’ hybrid impatiens are extra-large deep pink or rosy-purple flowers that bloom throughout summer until late fall. The semi-compact impatiens plant produces a dramatic pink display in partial shade or partial sun. The large pink flowers measure 3” (7.5 cm) and create a mound of vibrant color when in full bloom.

‘Paradise Pearl White’ New Guinea Impatiens

The ‘Paradise Pearl White’ impatiens flowers are larger, brilliant white blooms that provide a burst of color in shaded gardens. The impressive white impatiens flowers measure 2” to 3” (5 – 7.5 cm) wide. The pure white blossoms contrast nicely with dark green foliage and create an attractive mounding growth in borders, beds, hanging baskets, and containers. 

Types of Double Impatiens (With Pictures)

Walleriana double impatiens flowers are some of the showiest bedding flowers you can grow in partial shade to full shade. 

Impatiens walleriana ‘Rockapulco White’ 

White double impatiens flowers on the ‘Rockapulco White’ plant add a romantic appeal to a summer landscape. The compact showy creamy white rose-like flowers bloom in masses on the compact mounding plant. The white showy impatiens flowers, with their hint of pink, create a pop of bright color in a shaded garden.

Impatiens walleriana ‘Rockapulco Appleblossom’ 

Double flowers on the ‘Rockapulco Applebossom’ are charming light pink and white blossoms that bloom freely from late spring until late fall. The brightly colored pale pink impatiens flowers contrast nicely with the dark green pointed leaves. The fast-growing, easy-care bedding plant is heat tolerant and brightens up a shady garden with its whitish-pink flowers. 

Impatiens walleriana ‘Fiesta Salsa Red’ 

The bright red double impatiens flowers on the ‘Fiesta Salsa Red’ cultivar look like small rose flowers. The ruby-red double flowers bloom from late spring until the first frost. This fast-growing, vigorous annual plant is heat tolerant and ideal for ground cover in the shade. You can also plant the double impatiens in pots for shaded patios, mixed beds, and floral borders. 

Impatiens walleriana ‘Fiesta Lavender Orchid’

‘Fiesta Lavender Orchid’ has beautiful double impatiens blooms with pale pink to lavender-colored petals. The attractive light pink double flowers are ideal for adding a dash of bright colors to shaded areas of the front of house or backyard. The easy-care flowering annuals perform well in full shade, moist, well-drained soil, and in a sheltered site.

Impatiens walleriana ‘Fiesta Ole Peach’

‘Fiesta Ole Peach’ double impatiens flowers are stunning light red to pink flowers with a dusting of white. The pink and white double flowers have red centers and keep their color in shaded conditions. The attractive pink floral blooms brighten gardens and look fantastic, contrasting with dark green pointed leaves. The compact mounding impatiens plant with its double pink flowers grows 10” (25 cm) tall and 12” (30 cm) wide.

Types of Walleriana Impatiens Flowers (With Pictures)

Impatiens walleriana flowers are the ultimate shade-loving flowers for bedding plants, containers, hanging baskets, mass plantings, and borders. 

‘Super Elfin White’ Walleriana Impatiens

The white impatiens flowers from the ‘Super Elfin’ series are stunning brilliant white blossoms that brighten up shaded gardens. The mounded, upright annual plant has flowers consisting of five spoon-shaped petals. The vigorous impatiens plant starts blooming by late spring and continues producing flowers until late fall. 

‘Super Elfin Coral’ Walleriana Impatiens

‘Super Elfin Coral’ impatiens mounding plants produce coral-pink round flowers, contrasting nicely with the dark green pointed foliage. Some of the flower color variations of this impatiens cultivar are light pink flowers with orangey brushstrokes in the center. The impatiens plants from the Super Elfin range grow about 10” (25 cm) tall and spread up to 12” (30 cm). 

‘Super Elfin Ruby’ Walleriana Impatiens

‘Super Elfin Ruby’ impatiens flower color is a deep red that looks spectacular against the dark green lanceolate leaves. The large, vigorous red-colored impatiens flowers bloom from late spring through summer until the first frosts. The masses of red flowers create a colorful carpet of floral foliage for beds, mass planting, and border edging. 

‘Tempo’ Impatiens Walleriana

The impatiens ‘Tempo’ series is a collection of bushy annuals with beautiful flowers measuring 1.2” – 2” (3 – 5 cm). Some ‘Tempo’ impatiens flower colors are bi-colored blossoms with light pink and deep pink patterns. The delicate five-petaled flowers grow at the end of stems. ‘Tempo’ impatiens are flowering annuals that grow up to 10” (25 cm) tall. 

On some cultivars in the ‘Tempo’ impatiens series, flowers are white with deep pink centers. The five-petaled white and pink flowers have spoon-shaped petals and bloom vigorously throughout the summer and into the fall. Plant ‘Tempo’ impatiens flowers in mass planting, ground cover for shade, hanging baskets, containers, or floral borders. 

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