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kimcoco

Impatiens in sun?

18 years ago

I was admiring pics of Tom's impatiens in his yard on another post...wondering how they handle sun.

I typically have only had impatiens in hanging baskets in the shade or morning sun only.

Can you plant impatiens where they receive afternoon sun? Looked as if Tom had them all around his yard...not much shade....so I was wondering.

Are there different cultivars that handle sun better than others?

Comments (6)

  • 18 years ago

    I'd say definitely not full afternoon sun. Impatiens can do well in morning and/or evening sun or dappled afternoon sun, but they just aren't plants that handle strong afternoon sun well.

    If you enjoy the flower shape of impatiens, a great full-sun substitute is Vinca. There are cultivars of various heights, and they prefer full, hot sun and should perform beautifully for you there.

  • 18 years ago

    Thanks...I'll have to try next year.

  • 18 years ago

    Boy, that Tom gets around!

    I'd recommend the New Guinea Impatiens for the sun as well. (I would do vinca - and still might BUT my yard is very moist and vinca I hear like it dry... My moist yard:
    {{gwi:20339}}
    ha ha ha!

    I have 12 large oaks out front and 12 large oaks out back - for .33 acres that's a lot of shade! I do have two areas that get a fair amount of sun - and I did the Dragon Wing begonias there last year (and was THRILLED with the results): (recommending them HIGHLY!!)
    {{gwi:705}}
    {{gwi:706}}
    {{gwi:5462}}
    But due to a direct sun too early by my DH catastrophy, (I started them from seed... and DH put them outside for a little 'sunshine' and they got fried. I used my new guineas in place of the DW Begonias and I was quite happy!

    {{gwi:715}}
    {{gwi:21614}}

    this area gets a good deal of sun...

    Good luck with whatever you decide Kim!

  • 18 years ago

    You just love to make us envious, don't you......

    LOL!!

    Seriously, your property looks beautiful!

    Agree with the rec that New Guinea impatiens can take more sun BUT (there's always a but...) the over-riding requirement is moisture.

    So, depending on soil conditions, New Guinea may work, but truthfully I still think Vinca are a better bet for full, hot sun.

  • 18 years ago

    Hi-Hot and very sunny here. I have impatiens in the full day's sun (since boyfriend wanted them there), and much to my surprise they have lasted the summer. They do need to be watered almost EVERY day, and the colors are a bit faded, but they have thrived and are healthy.
    PS-I planted some in pots and shadier places to show him how much better they could look. Next year the sunny spot will get vinca.

  • 18 years ago

    I absolutely LOVE vinca. I use them at the base of huge flower pots, and they get some shade from the plant in the pot. I also use the white blooming vinca behind a row of leriope where the evening twilight makes the white flowers stand out. Some of my plants in Mobile survive all winter if they end up in a flower pot which I blanket for a freeze.

    Up north in New England, I also have the perennial or really evergreen vinca which grows with reckless abandon, and blooms purple in the spring, with the ajuga spikes poking purple exclamation marks up at random. Overall, I
    really enjoy both kinds of vincas.

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