Impatiens balsamina Camellia-flowered Mix - seeds

Impatiens balsamina 'Camellia-flowered Mix' offers a prolonged and intense flowering, with pretty double flowers ranging from white to violet, with a variety of shades of pink and red. These are low-maintenance, annual plants known for their ease of cultivation. Sheltered from the harsh rays of the sun, their exuberant summer flowering adds brightness and charm to borders, flower beds and flower pots. Double balsams also make excellent cut flowers. Sow from March to May, either under cover or directly in open ground, allowing for blooms from mid-June.

Impatiens balsamina, also known as Camellia-flowered Balsam or Double Balsam, belongs to the balsaminaceae family. It is native to India and Myanmar, where it naturally grows in wet and slightly shaded areas of tropical regions. Balsam, an old-fashioned relative of garden impatiens, was introduced to Europe in the 16th century via the Silk Road, becoming a popular ornamental flower, especially in Victorian gardens. Cultivated as an annual plant, it blooms generously in summer until early autumn, offering a range of colours. Beyond its ornamental aspect, balsam, traditionally used as a balm, hence its name "balsamina," has been used in indigenous medicine in Asia to relieve rheumatism, fractures, and various inflammations.

The 'Camellia-flowered Mix' balsams have a bright green, slightly serrated foliage, carried by brittle, sap-filled stems. Adopting a bushy and minimally branched silhouette, they can reach a height of 50 to 70 cm. From June to September, the flowers appear in the axils of the leaves in the form of pompoms measuring 5 to 7 cm in diameter, resembling camellia flowers. Elegant and graceful, they display a range of colours ranging from pure white to violet, with a complete range of pink shades. Throughout the summer, these nectar-rich flowers attract pollinators, butterflies, and birds, thus enriching the ecosystem of your garden.

Camellia-flowered Balsams thrive in rich, moist soil in areas semi-shaded during the hottest hours of the day. With their vibrant hues, they are essential for brightening up shaded scenes in summer. In a natural or romantic garden, they easily blend with masterworts, Japanese anemones, and fuchsias. In a woodland setting, they enhance a carpet of heucheras and hostas, or ferns. In containers on a shaded terrace, they harmonise well with other annual plants such as coleus, begonias, or morning glories.

Tips: To maintain adequate moisture and preserve soil moisture, it is useful to apply mulch at the base of the plants.