Pale Touch-Me-Not

Impatiens pallida

Native to:
Canada, United States

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Balsaminaceae
Genus:
Impatiens
Species:
Impatiens pallida
USDA Symbol:
IMPA

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Annual
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
150 cm
Light Requirements:
Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
jun,jul,aug,sep
Bloom Colors:
yellow

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Hummingbirds:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented hummingbird visits (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

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

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Common eastern (Bombus impatiens) Hummingbirds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
hummingbirds, bees, butterflies
Deer Resistant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, moist, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers shaded areas in woodlands

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
Germination Time:
14–30 days
Notes:
Seeds require cold stratification and light for germination. Fresh seed germinates more readily.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI