A: Impatiens do indeed come back from their own seed each year. You’ll realize with experience that the seedlings don’t begin blooming until late May, which is why most folks plant blooming, nursery-grown impatiens plants in April. To get yearly re-seeding, leave the bed alone after winter kills the plants. Are all impatiens perennials?
Even though some impatiens species are perennial, impatiens are generally grown as annuals due to their inability to tolerate frost.
Do potted impatiens come back every year?
Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) is a tender, tropical perennial plant that only lives outdoors year-round in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11. What do you do with impatiens in the winter?
Do impatiens like sun or shade?
Impatiens perform best in moist, well-drained soils in partial shade. Sites that receive 2 to 4 hours of filtered sun during the day or morning sun and afternoon shade are usually ideal. Impatiens can also be grown in heavy shade. However, plants will be taller and bloom less profusely in heavily shaded locations. What do perennial impatiens look like?
Characteristics. The stunning, bold colors and inexpensive price of impatiens make them a popular choice for many gardeners. The flowers bloom in orange, blue, red, purple, lavender, pink, and white. The leaves are dark or light green and sometimes have a reddish-bronze cast.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
What is the difference between perennial and annual?
Perennial plants regrow every spring, while annual plants live for only one growing season, then die off. Perennials generally have a shorter blooming period compared to annuals, so it’s common for gardeners to use a combination of both plants in their yard.
Is Dahlia perennial or annual?
With a little research you will discover that Dahlias are considered a tender perennial, meaning they are Winter hardy in specific planting zones (8-11), in Windsor and Essex County we’re gardening in zone 7, which allows us to plant them in the Spring and treat them as annuals or dig them up and store the tubers for …
Will impatiens last through winter?
Impatiens plants that bloomed enthusiastically through the previous spring, summer and fall are probably all tuckered out and won’t survive the winter. But those impatiens set out later in the season and located in warm locations with good drainage often survive and look terrific the next season.
Will impatiens come back after frost?
You may even find that some plants that look damaged immediately after a freeze actually aren’t. … Damaged growth on herbaceous or non-woody plants, such as cannas, elephant ears, birds-of-paradise, begonias, impatiens, philodendrons and gingers, may be pruned back to living tissue.
How long do impatiens flowers last?
When should you cut back impatiens?
You can prune impatiens when it reaches the height of 6 inches or more. Pruning is important for the plant as it promotes new growth in the plant and improves its blooming. The right time to start pruning impatiens is mid summer or the months of July and August, once the main growing season is over.
Do impatiens spread?
Producing a rainbow of blossom colors, impatiens plants (Impatiens wallerana) commonly flower in summer and autumn. They do not spread like grass or strawberry plants, but they form bushy mounds with an aggressive seeding habit.
Do annuals come back every year?
The short answer is that annuals don’t come back, but perennials do. Plants that flower and die in one season are annuals—although many will drop seeds that you can collect (or leave) to grow new plants in the spring.
What temperature is too cold for impatiens?
Although impatiens thrive in Mediterranean climates, they typically prefer shaded temperatures of around 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Impatiens may die if the thermometer dips below 32 F.
Do impatiens reseed themselves?
Impatiens plants thrive in pots, window boxes, hanging baskets and in the ground and are the only annual that blooms vigorously in the shade. They are easy to transplant (with a ball of soil), often reseed themselves and have a tendency to form a rounded mound as they grow, so they always have a tidy look.
What are double impatiens?
Double impatiens is an annual plant with a beautiful, full double bloom that is reminiscent of a rose. Double impatiens are easy to grow. Whether you are planting double impatiens from nursery stock, seeds or cuttings from your garden, follow these simple steps for satisfying results.
Can you plant impatiens in the ground?
Impatiens grow best in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 through 10. Planting them in the ground means finding a spot that provides light shade, which makes them the ideal plant for garden borders where they can grow below other vegetation.
Why are my impatiens dying?
One of the most common problems with impatiens flowers is wilting. This is usually due to moisture stress. These plants need to be kept consistently moist, but not soggy. … In addition to watering, wilting can be a result of heat stress, especially if the plants are in too much sun.
What’s the difference between vinca and impatiens?
Vinca leaves have a dark, glossy color and a pointed tip, whereas the leaves of an impatiens plant are bright green and have scalloped edges. If you can, reach down to examine how the plant anchors itself to the ground. … Vincas thrive in full sun, whereas impatiens prefer some shade.
Do impatiens grow in full shade?
Light. With sufficient water, standard impatiens can be grown in a partly sunny location in northerly regions, but their greatest virtue is that they thrive in the shade.
Will impatiens bloom in full shade?
Impatiens plants bloom best with some shade, a requirement that often leads to misunderstanding. While some impatiens bloom well in full shade, for the most part they’ll perform better with at least some sun. On the other hand, too much sun will cut down on blooming, too. Avoid planting your impatiens in full sun.
Is Geranium an annual or perennial?
The plant in the garden is officially named geranium and commonly called cranesbill. It blooms for a few weeks in late spring or summer, but survives really cold winters. It is a perennial. And though united by name, these flowers have little in common in terms of use, appearance or growth.
What is the hardiest perennial flower?
Best Hardy Perennial Flowers
- Hostas (partial to full shade) …
- Shasta Daisy (full sun preferred) …
- Black-eyed Susans (full sun preferred) …
- Clematis (full to partial sun) …
- Daylily (full to partial shade) …
- Peony (full to partial sun) …
- Dianthus (at least 6 hours of sun)
Which flowers come back year after year?
Annual Flowers (Which Need To Be Planted Each Year) Any flower that comes back year after year is defined as a perennial flower. The word ‘perennial’ comes from the Latin prefix ‘per-‘ (meaning through) and the word annual (meaning yearly). Thus, a perennial flower is one that grows and blooms for multiple years.
Is Lavender an annual or perennial?
Lavender is a perennial that will last for several years under the right conditions. Because of its Mediterranean origin, lavender loves blazing hot sun and dry soil. If your lavender doesn’t thrive, it’s most likely due to overwatering, too much shade, and high humidity levels.
Are hydrangeas perennials?
You’ll find hydrangeas growing in hardiness Zones 3 to 7 as perennials. With flowers starting in spring and often last throughout summer into early fall, hydrangea flowers can be the foundation plant of your landscape.
Are marigolds perennials?
Although calendula is grown as an annual, anyone who’s left a plant in the ground in autumn can testify they are actually short-lived perennials.
Are peonies perennial?
Peonies aren’t the only garden showstopper. This tender perennial would rank higher on my top 10 list except for one important reason: Dahlias need to be protected in the wintertime, which means you have to dig them up every fall. If you are okay with a little effort, then you are in for a real treat.

Graduated from ENSAT (national agronomic school of Toulouse) in plant sciences in 2018, I pursued a CIFRE doctorate under contract with Sun’Agri and INRAE in Avignon between 2019 and 2022. My thesis aimed to study dynamic agrivoltaic systems, in my case in arboriculture. I love to write and share science related Stuff Here on my Website. I am currently continuing at Sun’Agri as an R&D engineer.