Great question. I have been looking for this seed or plant for a while. A kind trader sent me the seed along with Impatiens zombensis, last year. The zombensis has sprouted, bloomed, thrived (since shared with 3 friends thru rooted cuttings), but the namchabarwensis did not germinate for me.

The latest issue of Horticulture has a full page photo of namchabarwensis in "Plants We Love" article, but no source listed. They also note hardiness as "Zone 7" - can this be true? If it is, I want it even more - anyone have info on hardiness of namchabwensis?

There are not any sources currently for Impatiens namchabarwensis seeds I dont know if there ever really will be. In the spring you might want to contact Cistus Nursery in Portland or Annies Annuals. The current info I have is that it may be perennial in warmer climates like Zone 10. Anything under this it is behaves like an annual. I had one that was surviving well under a evergreen tree until we hit 25f which is very unusal here where I live. If it survives by its root I will let you all know but it didnt last year.

OK, I placed and order too. We've been discussing this and other unusual impatiens over on the Carolina Forum. TriangleJohn pointed out that there's some folks at a seed company in the U.K. scatching their heads, trying to figure out why suddenly a crowd from North Carolina needs these little blue flowers - hoho!

I got my Impatiens namchabarwensis seeds from secret seeds in the uk. Half are going to be planted under lights and half are going to be winter sown. Now to see which works better. It should be an interesting experiment.

I saw one lot of Impatiens namchabarwensis seeds on ebay. They went for an outrageous amount. I stopped watching it at $25 for, I think, five seeds. If mine do well, I will certainly harvest seed and I might even start selling on ebay at that price.

Shoot I too have looked for seeds or cuttings for a long time now.I just went to order some seeds and they are all sold out. Just have to keep looking:)

If anyone knows of any other sources please let me know.

Thanks

Bea

Anyone know if there are any secrets to getting these guys to germinate?? I guess I was one of the last shoppers to snatch a packet from secretseeds. I've grown regular impatiens from seed before and was just wondering if there are any special needs for namchabarwensis. I normally use soil less mix, inside the house under lights and I water with rain water. I have access to a greenhouse but I won't be there everyday to water them and the staff isn't going to follow my wishes for rain water waterings.

trianglejohn
I would start them like Impatiens balfouri seeds. I would place them in a pot and set them out side for a bit. This seems to help but do try a few in the greenhouse as well. These plants are not really tropical as the bedding types. Though something I have learned this past winter is that it may really be perennial in places that do not get frost. One should take care this plant can really sets abundant seed and should be watched so that it does not escape.

I may wait for things to warm up a bit - we've been in the teens these last couple of nights! I also bought some viola species which will need the frosts so I guess I'll be setting up multiple flats (I was hoping to consolidate my workload). I'm a friend, neighbor and ex-employee of Tony Avents at Plant Delights - he said to tell you "Hi".

I found a nursery that has the plants. I ordered a few and am waiting to hear back from them on the delivery date. Cistusnursery.com it's located in the state of Oregon.

Beca

Do tell! Details please. Inquiring minds need to know. What size plants? How much? Minimum order, etc.

When I checked their site a few days ago, I didn't see any impatiens listed. Did you have to ask about them or am I just blind?

I just got back from Cistus. The owner is a good friend of mine. He does not have namchabarwensis list in the catalog but I can tell you he has lots of them. I spent part of the weekend potting up a bunch. He should have a near complete collection of hardy species. They are all appearing in near by pots so when they do come up they are picked out and put in a pot of their own. I think he will be sending them out in the spring after they get settled into their pots.

Tell Tony I said "Hi" back.

Cistus Nursery does have the namchabarwensis impatient in it's mail catalog. I don't know why it can't be found in there? I bought my plants from it...and will recieve 3 plants next week. $14 each. No minimum order (I think). They didn't say how big the plants are but whatever...I am glad to get them no matter what size they are. Good Luck.

Beca

FYI: I just recieved my three plants this morning from Cistus nursery. The plants came in 4" pots and look good and healthy. Now where to plant them in my sunroom...they are certainly not going outside-LOL.

Beca

Total bust on my seeds from secretseeds. Tried some on damp coffee filter (one sprouted but died upon transplant), some in seed mix w/bottom heat, some in seed mix in cool greenhouse, and some outside in seed mix. Careful watch on damp but not wet - still 0% success- bummer.

I bought three of these plants from Cistus nursery in the spring. Even though all of my "ordinary" impatiens are already producing seeds, I don't see anything that remotely resembles a seed "pod" forming on these plants. Can someone enlighten me as to their seeding habits?

I have seen bees pollinating the flowers at Cistus. The seed pods look like little cigars after the petals drop. They will explode like any other Impatiens. You can also do it by hand. Just stick your finger in a flower with the pollen cap then rub some on to your finger. Then rub the pollen on the tip where the cap has fallen off and that should work. Once bees find the flowers you should have no problems with reseeding.

The magazine Fine Gardening highlights this plant this month. The article is by Derick Pitman aka Mr Impatiens (www.mrimpatiens.com).
He says that this perennial will remain evergreen in shade in Z10 and 11. It may survive in Z9. Seed may survive in Z7. Although they may self-seed generously in the garden, "the seeds can be a little tricky to germinate in a controlled environment. It is best to start with fresh seed sown in a pot and provide them with a season of stratification (damp, dark and cool conditions)."
He lists sources as Annies Annuals and Cistus but no seed source. I'd like some seed if anybody finds some.

I just ran across this old post. I had trouble germinating collected seed but have seedlings coming up easily in my NJ garden. Odd. I like this plant though it is a little "wild" in appearance and not quite as blue as some of the photos.