Impatiens Hawkeri

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Ah, good eye 👀 — yes, these could very well be Impatiens hawkeri (commonly called New Guinea Impatiens) rather than the more common Impatiens walleriana.

Here’s how you can tell the difference:

🔍 Impatiens walleriana (Busy Lizzie)

  • Leaves: Softer green, smaller, thinner.
  • Flowers: Slightly smaller, softer colors (pinks, whites, reds, purples).
  • Best in shade — struggles in full sun.
  • More prone to downy mildew.

🔍 Impatiens hawkeri (New Guinea Impatiens)

  • Leaves: Larger, glossier, often darker green or even bronze-tinged.
  • Flowers: Bigger, bolder, more vibrant colors (pink, coral, red, lavender, orange).
  • Tolerates more sun than walleriana — morning sun + afternoon shade is ideal.
  • More resistant to disease.

🌱 Care for Impatiens hawkeri (New Guinea Impatiens)

  • Light: Bright shade to partial sun; can handle more sun than walleriana if kept moist.
  • Water: Keep evenly moist, but avoid waterlogging. Needs more water in sunny spots.
  • Soil: Rich, well-drained with organic matter.
  • Fertilizer: Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks (they’re heavier feeders than walleriana).
  • Temperature: Warmth-loving, best above 60°F (15°C). Not frost tolerant.
  • Maintenance: Deadheading not usually needed (self-cleaning flowers). Pinch for bushier growth if desired.

From your photo: the leaves look broader and glossier than typical walleriana, and the flowers are large, vibrant pink — so you may indeed have New Guinea Impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri). 🌺


Great question 🌱

Both Impatiens walleriana and Impatiens hawkeri (New Guinea Impatiens) are tender perennials in their native tropical habitats 🌴 (East Africa for walleriana, Papua New Guinea for hawkeri).

👉 But in most climates (North America, Europe, etc.), they’re grown as annuals because they cannot survive frost.

🌺 Impatiens Walleriana

  • True perennial in frost-free climates (zones 10–11).
  • Grown as an annual everywhere else.

🌺 Impatiens Hawkeri (New Guinea Impatiens)

  • Also a tender perennial, but usually treated as an annual.
  • In warm climates or indoors, it can live for several years.

✅ If you want to keep them beyond one season:

  • You can overwinter indoors in pots before frost arrives.
  • Give them bright, indirect light, consistent moisture, and light feeding.
  • They may not flower much in winter, but they’ll survive and bloom again when moved outdoors in spring.




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