Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Balsaminaceae

Genus:

Impatiens

Species:

Impatiens aurella

USDA Symbol:

IMAU

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Annual

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

90 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

jun,jul,aug,sep

Bloom Colors:

yellow, orange

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Hummingbirds:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented hummingbird visits (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, hummingbirds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers shaded or semi-shaded environments

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

14–30 days

Notes:

Seeds require light for germination and consistent moisture. Fresh seed germinates best.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI