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The Global Insight

Is SunPatiens same as New Guinea impatiens

Author

Ava Hudson

Updated on April 20, 2026

SunPatiens are hybrid impatiens that more closely resemble the New Guinea impatiens rather than the traditional garden impatiens. The flowers are much larger, and the foliage and growth habit are more robust than garden impatiens. … So, now we have a New Guinea-type impatiens that thrives in the Deep South.

Are New Guinea impatiens sun Patiens?

SunPatiens, an improvement of shade-loving, New Guinea-type impatiens, love growing in the full sun during the hottest parts of summer. They bloom from the time they are planted in late April or May through fall.

Are Sunpatiens impatiens?

Sunpatiens is a relatively new impatiens hybrid that thrives in full sun and hot, humid weather, greatly expanding the area in which gardeners can spread impatiens color.

What is wrong with New Guinea impatiens?

Problems: As mentioned above, these plants are very susceptible to root rots (pythium, phytophthora) and stem rot (rhizoctonia). They get impatiens necrotic spot virus and tomato spotted wilt; both cause black spots and lesions on the stem as well as stunted or distorted leaves and total plant collapse.

What is the scientific name for New Guinea impatiens?

Impatiens hawkeri (group) Common Name: New Guinea impatiens. Type: Herbaceous perennial. Family: Balsaminaceae. Zone: 10 to 12.

Are SunPatiens good for full sun?

Heat and humidity won’t stop SunPatiens impatiens from blooming its head off in your garden. Unlike its shade-loving cousins, SunPatiens thrives in full sun, eventually growing 24 to 36 inches (61 to 92 centimeters) tall and wide. This vigorous annual works great as a bedding plant or in a large container.

Are SunPatiens the same as vinca?

SunPatiens cost more than regular Vinca like the Pacifica Series. SunPatiens, at this time, only come in solid color blooms compared to some varieties of Vinca which have multiple colors in the flowers. … They are taller than Vinca so they’re not an option for a low growing sun annual.

Do rabbits eat New Guinea impatiens?

But rabbits have been known to take a nibble. This may be more of an issue with newly planted impatiens than with established plants because rabbits have a tendency to try new things. Use protective netting on new plants to protect them until they become more established.

Are New Guinea impatiens annual or perennial?

New Guinea Impatiens Care. Most gardeners grow New Guinea impatiens as an annual plant, purchasing them in pots to transfer to the garden. Expect your New Guinea impatiens to start blooming early in the season, if they aren’t already in bloom when you buy them.

How do you keep New Guinea impatiens blooming?

Light Levels. A partially shady spot encourages flowering in New Guinea impatiens. Morning sun and afternoon shade provide the best light levels for these plants and promote prolific blooming. In areas of the garden that receive more than eight hours of sunlight a day, blooming is reduced.

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What's the difference between SunPatiens and impatiens?

Though Sunpatiens are a hybrid of Impatiens, the primary difference among the two is their light requirements. Sunpatiens are a sun-loving variety that thrives in the sun, whereas impatiens grow best in shady areas. Sunpatiens also have a dark green shade of leaves whereas the Impatiens have a lighter shade of them.

How long do SunPatiens last?

BLOOMING They bloom from late spring until mid-fall. TEMPERATURE ZONE 10 to 11 When nights stay above 50 degrees, place your plants outside and leave them there all season. WINTER SEASON These are annuals and can’t take a freeze.

When can you plant SunPatiens?

The planting of Sunpatiens ® flowers purchased in nursery pots is performed in spring. Favor sun or part sun. The ground must drain well and have a lot of humus. Plant mulch will retain water and slowly convert to humus over the season.

How do you care for potted New Guinea impatiens?

New Guinea impatiens prefer consistently moist soil. However, they cannot tolerate soil that is soggy or too dry. If the soil dries out completely between watering, your plant may wilt or lose flowers. A thorough drench once each week is usually enough for plants grown outdoors.

Are vinca and New Guinea impatiens the same?

Vinca leaves have a dark, glossy color and a pointed tip, whereas the leaves of an impatiens plant are bright green and have scalloped edges. If you can, reach down to examine how the plant anchors itself to the ground. … Vincas thrive in full sun, whereas impatiens prefer some shade.

Is SunPatiens annual or perennial?

Impatiens ‘Sunpatiens Compact Orchid’ is a dense, mound-forming, well-branched perennial, usually grown as an annual, boasting masses of large, lavender-orchid flowers, up to 2 in.

Should SunPatiens be cut back?

In most cases, SunPatiens should not be cut back to control size as it alters their natural form; but, if Vigorous types get taller than desired in mid- to late summer, they can be cut back, taking off the top one-third of growth.

Will SunPatiens spread?

Spreading SunPatiens can grow 18-36″ tall and 24-36” wide. Their aggressive spreading nature allows you to plant further apart (14-24” spacing) and increase your coverage, compared to traditional annuals.

How big do compact SunPatiens get?

Compact SunPatiens® are bred for strong retail appeal and a smaller habit. They offer the best habit for multi-pack, high-density production. In the landscape, Compact varieties grow 16-30 in. tall and 14-20 in.

Why are my SunPatiens dying?

Actually, the wilting is a symptom of light water stress. This stress diverts energy to the root system to expand and strengthen it. Having the habit of only watering when you notice that slight wilt is the best thing you can do for your sunpatiens!

How fast do SunPatiens grow?

• SunPatiens root extremely fast and produce finished liners in just two weeks. • Reduced crop time uses less energy and yields more turns in the same space. • SunPatiens grow well over a wide temperature range, providing flexibility with production scheduling.

Do you have to deadhead New Guinea impatiens?

Impatiens generally don’t require deadheading as they are a self-cleaning plant that naturally sheds spent blooms, according to North Carolina State University Extension. However, even impatiens can benefit from deadheading if the plant has become stressed and has lost the majority of its blooms at the same time.

Do New Guinea plants come back every year?

Impatiens and New Guinea impatiens are both perennial plants with no tolerance of frost.

Do rabbits like Sunpatiens?

Their dense, bushy habits will bring some of the most colorful flowers to your garden longer than just about any other plant in your garden. … Well suited for container plantings, window boxes, garden borders, & mass plantings in beds. WILL THE CRITTERS EAT THEM? They look so yummy but deer and rabbits leave them alone.

Do squirrels eat impatiens?

Impatiens (Impatiens spp.) are one of the most popular bedding plants around — the colorful flowers grow well in the shade — but they are not bulb plants, and they are not a favorite food of squirrels.

Do deer eat impatiens?

Deer often target impatiens (Impatiens spp.), and they have been known to cause severe damage to these beautiful flowering annuals. … Plant flowers that deer tend to dislike near the impatiens such as the annual floss flower (Ageratum houstonianum) or the herb mint (Mentha spp., USDA zones 4 to 9).

How do you keep New Guinea impatiens from getting leggy?

Rejuvenating impatiens that have become leggy and overgrown is as simple as a quick pruning. First, in order to keep your plants blooming all summer, pinch off the tops of stems after each flower has bloomed and faded. This deadheading encourages new blooms. You can do this regularly throughout the growing season.

What is the best fertilizer for New Guinea impatiens?

Recommendations for Fertilizing Young Plants During the first 6 to 8 weeks after planting, 100 or 200 ppm N from a complete NPK fertilizer are good rates for New Guinea impatiens. If a slow-release fertilizer is applied at planting or shortly thereafter use no more than 100 ppm N.

Should you fertilize New Guinea impatiens?

New Guinea impatiens require moderate fertilization. Plants growing in pots or other containers should be fertilized approximately every 2 weeks with a water soluble fertilizer. Incorporation of a slow-release fertilizer into the soil prior to planting should be adequate for plants in landscape beds.

What do you do with SunPatiens in the fall?

In those zones, for proper SunPatiens care you can prune the plants again in early to mid-fall, cutting back about one-half to two-thirds of each plant’s stems. Leave a few stems not pruned on each plant to reduce plant stress, but you might pinch the growing tips of these stems back a bit.

Are New Guinea impatiens heat tolerant?

New Guinea impatiens should not be set outside until night temperatures are above 45 degrees F. They are not as cold hardy as many other annuals, such as geraniums or petunias. They grow best with day temperatures of 70 to 85 degrees and night temperatures of 55 to 65 degrees.