The Secret Language of Impatiens Flowers — What They’re Really Saying

If you’re seeking a bedding plant to fill those shady spots in the garden with bright colors, look no further than impatiens. In the language of flowers, they symbolize motherly love. Read on to learn more about these popular flowering plants.

What are Impatiens Flowers?

The genus Impatiens contains more than 1,000 species of flowering plants. It belongs to the Balsaminaceae family, which has just two genera: Impatiens and Hydrocera.

Plants in this family grow in various climates and regions, from tropical to temperate, across North America, Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Impatiens are one of the most popular bedding flowers in North America. The name refers to several different types of plants within the Impatiens genus. The type commonly sold in the U.S. are often cultivars of the walleriana or hawkeri species.

The History and Origins of Impatiens Flowers

Along with their genus name, impatiens have several common names, such as busy Lizzy, patience plants, jewlweed, touch-me-nots, and sultans. 

Etymological Meaning

Impatiens, however, comes from the Latin for “impatient.” This refers to the plant’s seed pods, which will burst open when touched (hence the common name “touch-me-nots”).

Originally, I. walleriana was known as I. sultanii, in honor of the Sultan of Zanzibar (which led to the common name “sultanas”). The species name was later changed to walleriana in reference to a 19th-century British missionary, Horace Waller.

The I. hawkeri species name refers to a member of the British Royal Navy, Hawker, who brought the plants from Papua New Guinea to England in 1884.

Cultivation and Hybridization

Originally, I. walleriana was somewhat spindly and lacked the compact form it has today. This changed in the 1960s when a horticulturist in the U.S. named Claude Hope hybridized the plants. Over the next 50 years, the annuals grew in popularity, eventually becoming one of North America’s most popular bedding plants.

However, that all changed in 2013 when an outbreak of downy mildew swept across the continent. Caused by Plasmopara obducens, a water mold, the disease entered gardens and nurseries through infected impatiens. It then spread through wind-borne spores and rain, eventually settling into the soil and even overwintering. There’s no known cure for the disease, and it spread quickly in the conditions that impatiens prefer, moist and shady. I. walleriana all but died out over the next few years, but by 2019, new, disease-resistant varieties became available.

The naturally resistant New Guinea impatiens also grew popular during this time. This flower’s history as a commercially available ornamental landscape plant started in the 1970s, when the USDA sent plant collectors to New Guinea. They returned with I. hawkeri and then got to work creating hybrids.

The Meaning and Symbolism of Impatiens

Along with their rich history, impatiens come with deep symbolic meaning. In the language of flowers, the blooms most traditionally represent motherly love. 

Additionally, in the Victorian era, impatiens were often used to symbolize someone’s eagerness for something. If you were expecting news or waiting for an event, receiving impatiens could symbolize the sender’s understanding of your anticipation.

In medieval Europe, gardens were often planted to honor the Virgin Mary. Because most people at that time were illiterate, flowers often carried religious significance and were used as teaching tools. Known as Mary gardens, these spaces were often planted around a focal point of a statue of Mary. Among the list of meaningful flowers, impatiens stood for “mother’s love”.

In certain Eastern cultures, impatiens symbolize the fleeting nature of mortal life due to their quick life cycle and the rapidity with which they disperse their seeds. They’re also seen as symbols of fertility and abundance due to their prolific growth and abundant flowers.

Uses and Benefits of Impatiens

In their native regions, impatiens are valued for their culinary and medicinal uses. Research indicates that I. walleriana flowers have potential use as food colorants.

The flowers are said to taste sweet and contain anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory compounds. A species native to North America, I. capensis or jewelweed, is used to treat poison ivy and as a diuretic.

Impatiens attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators with their bright flowers.

Creative Uses for Impatiens

Impatiens are the perfect way to add color to shady sites where not much else likes to grow. Combining these lovely annuals with shade-loving plants with foliage interest, such as hostas and ferns, adds a splash of color to darker areas.

They’re also a great choice in containers for shaded corners of porches or decks. Plant them along walkways and in borders for season-long color.

Impatiens Crafts

Impatiens flowers are an excellent choice for pressing and drying. Pick flowers at the height of their bloom, then carefully place them between sheets of absorbent paper. (Paper towels will work.)

Then place a heavy object over the paper and flowers, such as a book. Leave the flowers undisturbed in a cool place for at least a month. At that point, check to ensure they’re completely dry.

If they are, coat lightly with a setting spray.

Impatiens Flowers – Wrapping Up

Impatiens are a beautiful choice for shady, moist spots in the garden or landscape. They bloom from summer through fall with gorgeous flowers in various colors, from red to orange to white. In the language of flowers, they stand for motherly love and are associated with the Virgin Mary. Choose from a wide range of varieties and colors when planning beds, borders, or containers filled with impatiens.