Impatiens dendricola – Flowering plants

Impatiens dendricola is a rare stemless Impatiens that found growing on tree trunks in evergreen forests. The leaves are drooping, membranous, elliptic to ovate-lance-shaped, blunt, minutely apiculate, rounded or more often narrowed at base, margins rather distinctly rounded toothed, apiculate in sinuses, more or less scattered hairy on the upper surface, hairless below. The blooming stems are 2-3, half-drooping. Flower racemes are 1.5-4 cm long, up to 8-flowered. The flowers are white. Lateral sepals are sickle-shaped-ovate, blunt, base deeply lobed on the anterior side. Lip is ovate, base sac-like, white.

Wings are 3-lobed, white with a cluster of orange hairs a little above base; distal lobes straight, strap-shaped, rounded, median lobes sub-circular, basal lobe strap-shaped, slightly widened at the tip, strongly recurved, about as long as lower, spurred. The spur is white, strongly curved, club-shaped. The capsules are semi-ellipsoid, one side straight, pointed 8 – 9 mm long, seeds sausage-shaped, dark brown, muriculate, with a dense cluster of wrinkled hairs at each end.

Scientific classification

Family: Balsaminaceae
Genus: Impatiens
Species: I. dendricola
Scientific Name: Impatiens dendricola
Common Name: Tree-Dwelling Balsam

How to grow and care for Impatiens dendricola

Light

It thrives best in partial shade to shade. An excessive amount of sun may cause browning of foliage, though a lot of shade may make the balsam plant leggy and flowerless.

Soil

It grows well in an evenly moist, organically rich, well-drained, peat moss-based potting mix.

Water

Water regularly, Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Flowering plants are thirsty, and they dry out quickly in containers, so check them often. Impatiens will quickly wilt if they are allowed to dry out.

Temperature

It prefers average room temperatures 60°F – 75°F / 16°C – 24°C. In winter do not let the temperature fall below 13°C (55°F).

Fertilizer

Fertilize every two weeks from spring through fall with a high-potassium liquid fertilizer diluted by half.

Propagation:

It can be easily propagated by seed. Sow impatiens seeds in spring or early summer. Germination takes 10 to 20 days at 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pests and Diseases:

Impatiens dendricola are susceptible to Spider mites, flower thrips, root-knot nematode, whiteflies, and aphids, especially under glass. Caterpillars outdoors. Gray mold, impatiens necrotic spot virus, fungal leaf spots, Rhizoctonia stem rot, Pseudomonas leaf spot, and Verticillium Wilt. If insect or disease problems occur, treat early with organic or chemical insect repellents and fungicide.