What's this plant?: SOLVED: Impatiens?

Replies: 14 Views: 153

Author	Comment
sunnyg San Jose, CA (Zone 9b) July 2, 2008 7:51 PM	I have several volunteers of this plant that hitchhiked in with a gardenia, and I believe they are an impatiens. I’ve heard them called “touch me nots,” and found the entry below in plant files and am wondering if this is what I have. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance. [HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com] View Larger
sunnyg San Jose, CA (Zone 9b) July 2, 2008 7:54 PM	another shot: View Larger
sunnyg San Jose, CA (Zone 9b) July 2, 2008 7:57 PM	one more: View Larger
Resin Northumberland (United Kingdom) (Zone 9a) July 2, 2008 8:02 PM	Yep, Impatiens. Not sure which species (there's several hundred), fairly similar to Impatiens glandulifera but not exactly that. Resin
sunnyg San Jose, CA (Zone 9b) July 2, 2008 8:08 PM	I just found another shot that shows the whole plant a bit better (left side of pic)…it’s kind of lanky and is several feet tall at this point. View Larger
Metrosideros Keaau, HI July 2, 2008 8:08 PM	Very unusual! It looks like Impatiens. Possibly an Impatiens niamniamensis x walleriana hybrid?
sunnyg San Jose, CA (Zone 9b) July 2, 2008 8:13 PM	I am wondering if it is Impatiens balfourii (see the link in my first post) especially since Annie’s Annuals sells it, and the friend who gave me that gardenia frequents that nursery. What do you think?
ecrane3 Dublin, CA (Zone 9a) July 2, 2008 8:15 PM	I was just posting that as a suggestion but you beat me to it! I am sure that's what it is, it reseeds rather prolifically so it could easily hitchike along with somethign else.
Metrosideros Keaau, HI July 2, 2008 8:18 PM	Any references to the plant?
ecrane3 Dublin, CA (Zone 9a) July 2, 2008 8:27 PM	[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com] [HYPERLINK@www.anniesannuals.com] [HYPERLINK@images.google.com]
sunnyg San Jose, CA (Zone 9b) July 2, 2008 8:32 PM	Thanks so much!
suse Bretten (Germany) August 28, 2008 7:06 AM	Sorry, I discovered this thread today. Sunnyg, this shows indeed Impatiens balfourii. The seeds germinate well, when sown in autumn outside . They need a cool period and starts to grow very late, perhaps at the end of March, April in my zone 7b. It's not as invasive like Imp. glandulifera, which displaces other plants. If it gets to much, you can pull out easily. Just now I start saving the new seeds for the trade.
sunnyg San Jose, CA (Zone 9b) August 28, 2008 1:15 PM	Thanks for that confirmation and the additional information, Suse! I’ve been saving a lot of seed as well, and if nothing else it is definitely fun to “harvest” them, although I think I need quicker reflexes. LOL
ecrane3 Dublin, CA (Zone 9a) August 28, 2008 3:34 PM	You don't need to worry too much about saving seed--it'll reseed nicely for you all on its own! (maybe a little too nicely!)
sunnyg San Jose, CA (Zone 9b) August 28, 2008 3:41 PM	Oh yeah, it’s been spraying seed all over already, so I am positive I will have lots of babies next year. I am just saving seed to share with others…and also because it is just so darn fun ;-).