Facts and pointers for growing impatiens

Impatiens seem to glow in low-light situations, brightening such spaces with panache and profuse flowers. The vibrant flower, also known as busy Lizzie, sultana or patience plant, doesn't require a lot of patience to grow. Here is how to handle the care free plant.

Impatiens bloom with unabashed energy. Flower colours number beyond 20 and include white, pink, lavender, salmon and cherry. There are also varieties with contrasting edges, bull's-eye blotches, festive streaks, or swirls of more than one colour enhancing their open-faced petals. Double-flowered impatiens, such as Rosette mix and 'Rose Parade', boast petal-packed flowers. Build up a shallow bed of organically rich soil for planting impatiens near shallow-rooted trees so they won't compete for moisture. Mass them for a sea of colour or mix them with shade-loving perennials, such as ajuga, hosta and astilbe.

Although the bedding-plant type of impatiens is by far the most popular, other impatiens also have a following. In Victorian times balsam, or touch-me-not (Impatiens balsamina), were all the rage for their vertical, pointed-leaved spikes with a treasure trove of snapdragon-like blossoms and seedpods that pop open, flinging their seeds when touched. Self-seeding balsam is a care-free annual for naturalizing in moist shade. Far larger and showier are New Guinea hybrids, with flowers of white, pink, red, blue, purple and orange amid shiny dark green leaves that often have golden variegation. New Guinea hybrid impatiens tolerate more sun than regular impatiens.

Impatiens need fertile, moisture-retaining soil, and container-grown plants in particular benefit from regular fertilizing. Fertilize containers every two to three weeks with any balanced plant food to encourage non-stop flowering. In beds, a single application of a controlled-release fertilizer after planting is usually sufficient. To propagate more of your favourites, simply root 10-centimetre-long (four-inch-long) stem cuttings in water and plant them when they have roots. Aphids or whiteflies sometimes attack impatiens but usually the flower is problem free. Either pest can be combated by squirting the plants with a strong stream of water from the hose.

It's easy to grow your own seedlings. This is what you need to do:

• Nine weeks before the last frost date, scatter the fine seeds on top of moist seed-starting soil.
• Press seeds into the soil so that they remain exposed to light.
• Keep the soil moist and at 24°C (75°F) until seedlings have several sets of mature leaves.
• Impatiens will stop growing in cold soil, so wait until two weeks after your last frost to move them into the garden.

These bedding plants are fun, cheery and are popular with many gardeners for adding such a variety of hues and designs to their beds.