Impatiens - Balsam Flower

Impatiens is a genus of about 900-1000 species of flowering plants in the family Balsaminaceae. The genus has a wide distribution throughout the northern hemisphere and tropics.

Some species are annual plants and produce flowers from early summer until the first frost, while perennial species, found in milder climates, can flower all year. They can exist both in, and out, of direct sunlight. Impatiens walleriana hybrids have commercial importance as garden plants with a yearly business volume of about US $230 million. This species of Impatiens were originally collected as weeds from Costa Rica, and bred through selection by Claude Hope. The original series of impatiens bred by Hope was the Elfin series, which has now been upgraded and is known as the Super Elfin series.

Major common names for one or more species include Balsam, Jewelweed, and Busy Lizzie.


Selected species
Impatiens walleriana also known as Busy Lizzie, Balsam or simply Impatiens, is native to eastern Africa from Tanzania to Mozambique. It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 15-60 cm tall, with broad lanceolate leaves 3-12 cm long and 2-5 cm broad. Leaves are mostly alternate, although they may be opposite near the top of the plant. The flowers are profusely borne, 2-5 cm diameter, with five petals and a 1 cm spur. The seedpod explodes when ripe in the same manner as other Impatiens species, an evolutionary adaptation for seed dispersal.

Impatiens pallida - Pale touch-me-not (also called Pale Jewelweed) is a medicinal plant native to the United States. It grows in moist to wet soils, generally alongside the closely related Impatiens capensis, producing flowers from midsummer through fall. Along with other species of jewelweed it is a traditional remedy for skin rashes, although controlled studies have not shown efficacy for this purpose.

Impatiens parviflora (Small Balsam; Small Flower Touch-me-not) is a species of annual herbaceous plants in the family Balsaminaceae, native to some areas of Eurasia, naturalized elsewhere and found in damp shady places.

Impatiens noli-tangere (Touch-me-not Balsam) is an annual herbaceous plant in the family Balsaminaceae found in damp places in Europe, Asia and North America. The yellow flowers are followed by pods which forcefully explode when ripe, ejecting the seeds for some distance. Also called Touch-me-not, Yellow Balsam, Jewelweed or Wild Balsam.

Impatiens namchabarwensis (Blue Diamond Impatiens) is a 40–50 cm tall perennial plant, native to the Himalaya, overwintering by a thick fleshy rootstock.

Impatiens grandisepala is a species of plant in the Balsaminaceae family. It is endemic to Cameroon. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Impatiens glandulifera - Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is a large annual plant, native to the Himalaya. It typically grows to 1 to 2 m high, with a soft green or red-tinged stem, and lanceolate leaves 5–23 cm long. The crushed foliage has a strong musty smell. The flowers are pink, with a hooded shape, 3–4 cm tall and 2 cm broad; the flower shape has been compared to a policeman's helmet, giving rise to the alternative common name "policeman's helmet". After flowering between June and October, the plant forms seed pods 2–3 cm long and 8 mm broad, which explode when disturbed, scattering the seeds up to 7 m. Impatiens, meaning "impatient", refers to this method of dispersal. Himalayan Balsam is sometimes cultivated for its flowers. It is now widely established in other parts of the world (such as the British Isles and the United States), in some cases becoming an invasive weed. The aggressive seed dispersal, coupled with high nectar production which attracts pollinaters, often allows the Himalayan Balsam to outcompete native plants. In the UK, some local wildlife trusts organise "balsam bashing" events to help control the plant.

Impatiens frithii is a species of plant in the Balsaminaceae family. It is endemic to Cameroon. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Impatiens capensis, the common jewelweed or touch-me-not, is an annual plant native to North America. It is common in bottomland soils, ditches, and along creeks, often growing side-by-side with its less common relative, Impatiens pallida.

Impatiens etindensis. It is endemic to Cameroon. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.

Impatiens balsamina (Garden Balsam or Rose Balsam) is a species of Impatiens native to southern Asia in India and Myanmar.It is called kamantigue in the Philippines.

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