For as long as we can remember the most popular summer colourful annuals are all the Impatiens. With their tropical lush vibe they last well into autumn and are the easiest way to add colour to your home. We're always waterwise in selecting a spot to grow the best. All varieties grow best with afternoon shade spreading to cover the ground in a blaze of colour. There is a myriad of colours to suit your style, to grow the best there are a few tips to bear in mind.

When planting your impatiens give them a good start by preparing the soil with loads of Compost and BioOcean fertiliser. Once planted add a layer of Mulch to help retain moisture longer, helping you save water as well as continually improving the soils condition. As young plants they need a high nitrogen fertiliser to get them growing and once in flower you can feed them with Multifeed Flowergro to keep them looking great. 

Beacon Impatiens: 

Beacon impatiens will cascade and hang over the edge of hanging baskets and containers. Plant them in areas where they can have their watering monitored and kept well fed. They are particularly hungry and to keep the leaves lush green feed them mid-summer again with a high nitrogen fertiliser such as BioGanic. They grow to a height of 25-30cm and when planted in the garden they create a mounded colour ball and will flower from October right through to April/May the following year, making them incredible value for money.

Solarscape Impatiens:

Billed as unbeatable colour for garden beds and containers. Larger flowers than many of the other varieties the flowers have a cute ruffle on the tips. Growing around 30cm high and almost half a meter wide if planted on their own but we always like a cluster planted around 20cm apart to get a large swathe of colour. Our recommended spot of Solarscape is morning sun and afternoon shade.

Sunpatiens Impatiens:

There is a more sun loving Impatiens, the ever-popular Sunpatiens. They do not grow in full sun unless you live in the tropical areas of the KZN Coast. They are best in afternoon shade and need a bit more water because of that, than most impatiens. Make sure they are watered daily. Growing up to a metre tall they are striking in mass plantings or in large containers.

Glimmer Impatiens:

A cascading variety with smaller leaves, the compact Glimmer Impatiens have Double Flowers that look like little roses. Perfect for containers in a dappled shade spot. Similar to the Beacon Impatiens they are quite hungry and to keep them lush and flowering well we definitely recommend feeding them with Multifeed Flowergro every second week through summer.

Clockwork Impatiens:

Growing to around 35cm high the Clockwork Impatiens in a variety of New Guinea Impatiens but grows more predictably into an even ball shaped clump. Flowering from spring right through summer into autumn, in bright colours to suit any style of garden.