Prolific Impatiens Brightens The Shade

Bizzy-lizzy is the nickname of impatiens, one of the most prolific summer-flowering shade annuals. If there is a spot in the shady or semi-shady garden that needs color, you can depend on the star of the shade garden, impatiens.

Two types are grown here, the common Bizzy-lizzy and the New Guinea impatiens. The New Guinea impatiens is noted more for its distinctive leaf colors, larger leaves and flowers. Foliage color varies from combinations of green, yellow and red to solid reds and many two-toned colors. The flowers are half again as large as those of the common Bizzy-lizzy, but not nearly as prolific. The leaves are also much larger. This type of impatiens will tolerate more sun then the Bizzy-lizzy. It is often used as a houseplant as well as an outdoor summer-flowering annual.

The common Bizzy-lizzy provides a massive array of color in the summer shady garden. It's not unusual for a single plant to have two dozen flowers all summer long. The newer hybrid strains like Elfin, Super Elfin, Fantasia, Blitz, Show Stopper or any of the other series of these colorful annuals provide a colorful show in the shade.

Flower colors range in shades of lilac, orange, pink, red, rose, salmon, scarlet, violet and white. Some flowers are two-toned.

Although single-flowering varieties are most popular, some types are double-flowering. The two most popular double series are the Dust and Rosette varieties. About 25 percent of the flowers are fully double and up to 75 percent semi-double to single. My experience has been that these do not flower quite as prolifically and tend to grow several inches higher.

Speaking of height, most of the new hybrids grow about 10 inches tall, with the doubles sometimes growing up to 15 inches or more.

Many of the newer varieties of impatiens can tolerate more sun than older ones and can be effectively used in shade or in spots where they will get morning sun.

For a solid mass of color, the plants are usually spaced nine to 12 inches apart. I like to plant them in groups of three, five or seven plants all of the same color. This provides a bright display, especially when combined with similar groupings of other shade plants.

Impatiens combine well with wax begonias (fibrous begonias), tuberous begonias, fuchsias and coleus. Or they can be used effectively in mass plantings.

Impatiens are also nice in hanging baskets. Use plants all the same color for best effect. You need only four or five plants in a hanging basket. Place one plant over each side of the basket, and if you use a fifth plant, place it in the center of the basket. Hang the basket in shade or semi-shade.

These plants require no special care. About the only pests that bother them are slugs, and in a hot summer look out for spider mites.

Feed impatiens every four to six weeks with an all-purpose liquid plant food, such as 20-20-20, Miracle Grow, Rapid-Grow, fish fertilizer, Peter's, etc.

At planting time add a little process manure, compost or peat moss to the soil. Place the plants in the soil at the same depth as they were planted in the pots or trays.

At the end of the season the plants can be taken indoors to be used as winter houseplants. New Guinea impatiens are best to use as houseplants.

Ed Hume cannot respond to personal inquires by mail but will answer questions of general interest in this column. Address question and comments to Ed Hume, Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111.