Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Balsaminaceae

Genus:

Impatiens

Species:

Impatiens balsamina

USDA Symbol:

IMBA

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Annual

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

75 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

jun,jul,aug,sep,oct

Bloom Colors:

pink, red, white, purple, violet

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

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

Reported Fauna Sightings

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

butterflies, hummingbirds, bees

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

good drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers organically rich soils

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Germination Time:

7–14 days

Notes:

Seeds require light to germinate; surface sow and do not cover. Optimal germination temperature is 70-75°F.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI