| Impatiens sodenii | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Balsaminaceae |
| Genus: | Impatiens |
| Species: | I. sodenii |
| Binomial name | |
| Impatiens sodenii Engl. & Warb. | |
| Synonyms | |
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Impatiens sodenii is a species of flowering plant in the family Balsaminaceae known by the common names poor man's rhododendron, Oliver's touch-me-not, and shrub balsam. It is native to Kenya and Tanzania, and widely cultivated as an ornamental plant.
Description
This plant is a subshrub growing up to 1.5 meters tall. The stems are succulent, and woody toward the bases. It is hairless, with leaves in whorls of up to 12, especially near the ends of the branches. The leaves are widely lance-shaped, or occasionally more oblong, with toothed edges. They are up to 18 centimeters long.
Flowers occur year-round, singly or in pairs. They are white or pink, sometimes with darker markings, and measure up to 5 centimeters in width. The lowest sepal behind the corolla tapers into a long, thin spur up to 8 centimeters long. The greenish fruit capsule is up to 2.4 centimeters long and undergoes explosive dehiscence when mature.
Cultivation
This plant is used as an ornamental garden shrub, and is a recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Several cultivars have been bred, including the white-flowered 'Madonna'. 'Flash' has white flowers with pink markings, and 'La Vida Rosa' has flowers marked with a deeper pink.
Weed
This is the most commonly grown impatiens in New Zealand, where it has escaped cultivation and become a weed. It is cultivated in Australia, where it has naturalized in a few areas in Western Australia and New South Wales. It is documented as an introduced species in the Canary Islands, Hawaii, and Colombia.
References
- "Impatiens sodenii Engl. & Warb". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- "Impatiens sodenii Engl. & Warb". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ Nickel, E. Impatiens sodenii the ideal shrub for shady spots. San Francisco Chronicle April 15, 2011.
- Impatiens sodenii. USDA PLANTS.
- ^ "Impatiens sodenii". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- ^ Impatiens sodenii. International Environmental Weed Foundation (IEWF).
- "Imaptiens sodenii". www.rhs.org. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
- Shrub balsam. Bay of Plenty Regional Council.