Soprano Impatiens will be a performance to your shade garden

The biggest surprise in The Garden Guy’s testing this year comes courtesy of the Soprano impatiens. I cannot remember the last time I planted what we call bedding impatiens. I'm sure I had dark hair and was still helping children with homework. All I can say is Holy Wow.

The Soprano impatiens will make their debut in 2022 and will be available in four colors: Bright Red, Orange, Violet Shades and White. If you have forgotten about impatiens, these are the plants that will give unparalleled color to the shade garden. I’ll testify the Sopranos can tolerate more sun than I thought. I will add we have had more frequent rains than I can ever remember. Soprano impatiens coming from

Proven Winners will reach about 15-inches tall with an equal spread. You might think a plant that thrives in the shade or filtered light would have special needs. In that regard, it has been zero, zip, nada as they have been the most carefree plants in my garden this year.

No one expects impatiens to attract pollinators but I have had swallowtail butterflies visit and now the large Cloudless Sulpurs have also found them to their liking. I am expecting that as the season winds down the hummingbirds will start to sample as well.

If you are like me, it may very well be 20-plus years since you have grown this type of impatiens. As tough as they are in the long sweltering summer heat and humidity, tight heavy clay may be the only thing keeping you from the green thumb award. If this is your situation, incorporate organic matter into your soil or plant on raised beds of planting mix like commercial landscapers.

There is possibly a generation or two of gardeners that have never planted bedding impatiens and might be wondering about partnerships and choice combinations for the landscape. If so, rejoice in this, if you are a hosta lover you could not pick a showier companion.

The Garden Guy decided to create mini-mixes instead of planting single colors. Thinking back to April when I planted, I really can’t remember why I chose to do it. maybe I had faint recollections of the 90s mixes. I partnered the Soprano Violet Shades the Orange together. This brings me cheer every time I look at them.

I used this Soprano mix around Rockin Golden Delicious pineapple sage and in conjunction with mophead hydrangeas that bloom blue for me. I used the impatiens also with Shadowland Autumn Frost hostas and as understory to upright alocasia elephant ears.

Another created mini-mix was using the Soprano Orange and Bright Red together. This just screams Santa Fe or somewhere west where the chili ristras hang in decoration. I used these along a brick wall and in close proximity to Heart to Heart Mesmerized caladiums. The soil here was already a mix of gravel and loam and has been superb.

Then in the front yard, I used the Soprano Violet Shades and Soprano White in partnership with Crested Surf Japanese Painted ferns and various azaleas. In all instances, these impatiens light up the landscape and suddenly those shady areas no longer go unnoticed.

Next year is simply going to be amazing with all of the new plants. If you have shady areas then by all means have Soprano impatiens high on your list. You’ll have color all summer long. Follow me on Facebook @ NormanWinterTheGardenGuy for more photos and garden inspiration.