Impatiens are a classic annual flower loved for their bright colors and ability to bloom profusely in shade. Their compact size makes them a perfect choice for container gardening. With their wide range of colors, impatiens can be mixed and matched with other plants to create eye-catching container designs. Here’s a look at some of the best companion plants for impatiens and tips for combining them in pots and planters.
Great Companion Plants for Impatiens
Begonias
Begonias are one of the most popular plants to grow with impatiens in pots. The wax begonia is an annual plant that does well in shade and comes in red, pink, white, and orange colors. Its waxy leaves look great next to the soft, delicate leaves of impatiens. Trailing begonias and mounded impatiens make beautiful spiller-thriller combinations. Asters and impatiens, especially the Dragon Wing types with their big, showy blooms, go well together.
Coleus
Another excellent plant for pairing with impatiens is coleus. Coleus is known for its brightly colored leaves, which offer a lot of color and texture contrast. When mixed with impatiens, upright types with frilly, ruffled leaves look especially nice. Trailing coleus varieties can also be used in mixed containers. Select coleus plants in shades like lime green, burgundy, pink, and yellow to go with the impatiens.
Caladiums
For a tropical look, combine impatiens with caladiums. These warm-weather bulbs produce lush, arrow-shaped leaves in colorful patterns of white, pink, red and green. Their large, dramatic foliage contrasts beautifully with delicate impatiens. Caladiums also thrive in partial shade and moist soil like impatiens. Use them as thriller plants among the shorter impatiens.
Sweet Potato Vine
For sprawling foliage in containers, sweet potato vine is a great choice Its chartreuse or burgundy leaves spill attractively over pot edges. Sweet potato vine combines well with both standard impatiens and New Guineas Choose a variety like ‘Blackie’ or ‘Margarita’ that has dark leaves to contrast the colorful impatiens blooms.
Fuchsias
Another compatible shade plant is fuchsia. The graceful, dangling flowers of fuchsia intermingle elegantly with impatiens. Trailing fuchsias look beautiful blended with upright impatiens varieties. Some compact, upright fuchsias also combine nicely with the shorter impatiens.
Lobelia
For an edging plant, trailing lobelia is hard to beat. Its tiny blue or white flowers hang pretty over the edges of pots and look good with the impatiens above. Along with the impatiens, you can also plant types of compact lobelia. Lobelia does well in cool weather and adds a splash of color between the main impatiens plants.
Bacopa
Also known as Sutera, bacopa produces masses of small, star-shaped blooms ideal for softening the edges of containers. Its trailing stems complement both standard impatiens and New Guineas. Bacopa comes in colors like white, pink, lavender and blue that blend nicely with impatiens. The tiny flowers intermingle with impatiens blooms to give pots and planters an elegant, romantic look.
Design Tips and Tricks
When combining impatiens with other plants in containers, keep in mind the height and growth habits of each variety. Select plants that grow well in the partial shade and moist conditions impatiens require.
Use trailing plants like sweet potato vine or ivy geraniums along the outer edges of the pot to cascade over the sides. Place larger, upright plants like coleus or caladiums in the center as thriller elements. Surround them with mounded impatiens to provide a colorful supporting cast. Trailing lobelia or bacopa can be tucked around the impatiens to soften edges and spill attractively.
Strive for interesting contrasts in color and foliage. For example, put bright red impatiens next to purple sweet potato vine. Hot orange or coral impatiens look great with cool blue lobelia or bacopa. Mix impatiens colors for dazzling pops of color.
Don’t overlook foliage contrasts. For example, combine fine-textured, lacy impatiens foliage with large, bold coleus leaves. Or pair the rounded leaves of caladiums with impatiens’ slender leaves. Foliage plants like sweet potato vine and coleus also extend color impact beyond the impatiens’ bloom period.
Plant impatiens at the same depth they were growing in their pots and water thoroughly after planting. Container plantings dry out faster than in-ground plantings so check soil moisture frequently. Water when the soil surface becomes dry and apply fertilizer regularly to encourage continuous flowering.
With the right companion plants, impatiens can be used to create gorgeous container combinations that bring color to shaded porches, patios and gardens all season long. Experiment with mixing colors, forms and foliage textures to design stunning planters tailor-made for brightening up your shade.
Best Companion Plants For Impatiens in Containers
Impatiens are great filler plants for container growing. They remain compact and do not aggressively push other plants out of the way. Asparagus Fern, Impatiens, and a stately Elephant Ear bulb or caladium can be used as the “thriller” (the main plant) and “filler” (the other plants) in a mixed seasonal planter that looks a bit tropical and lasts a long time. There are only two things to keep in mind when putting plants together for a container display: each plant needs the same amount of water and light.
Shrubs To Plant With Impatiens
Older homes that have established foundation plantings are sometimes planted with one or two types of evergreen shrubs. Yew, Boxwood, and Holly make a lovely foundation hedging during the winter when no other plants are visible but lack pizzazz during the winter months. The shade from these shrubs is ideal for growing Impatiens during the summer. Impatiens have shallow roots that won’t fight for water, and their bright colors can make a dark room look better.
Impatiens also pair well with broadleaf evergreens such as Rhododendrons, Azalea, and Daphne. These shrubs all bloom very early, but have interesting foliage that can be used as a backdrop to highlight bedding plants such as Impatiens. The most traditional shrubs to pair with Impatiens are Hydrangeas of all types. Both plants enjoy the same growing conditions of shade and moist, well-draining soil, and have long-lasting blooms. Select Impatiens either to complement or highlight your Hydrangea flower color.
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FAQ
Do impatiens like to be crowded?
Space impatiens 15-30 cm apart, depending on variety size and the size of container.
Where not to plant impatiens?
Where you do plant impatiens, don’t space them too closely or plant them in very deep shade. Never water impatiens via overhead sprinklers (especially at night) and avoid other practices that promote leaf wetness, as the disease thrives where there is wet foliage, cool nighttime temperatures and moist air.
Can impatiens and petunias be planted together?
Avoid pairing them with plants that have vastly different growing needs. For example, shade-loving plants like impatiens and begonias will languish in the full sun needed for petunias. But cacti, succulents, and other plants that do well in dry climates might get too much water if they are grown with petunias that need less water.
Do impatiens like sun or shade in pots?
Impatiens like a sheltered position away from frost and wind and with some sunlight. If you grow them in full sun, they’ll stay very compact. If you grow them in full shade, they’ll get tall and not flower as well. So an ideal spot for them is one with shade and sunlight, such as on verandahs, patios and balconies.