Impatiens are symbolic of motherly love. In the medieval Mary gardens devoted to the Virgin Mary, impatiens were viewed as "Our Lady's earrings." Impatiens flowers come in many different colors from reds to blues to near blacks and browns. The individual colors have not been given separate meanings.

About Impatiens Flowers

There are approximately 1,000 species of impatiens flowers, but only a few are normally grown in modern gardens. Many species are difficult to grow from seed. Instead, impatiens flowers are often grown from cuttings.

Impatiens come in a wide variety of forms including flat flowers and orchid-like shapes. Many species grow only in very narrow ranges and will not grow in other geographical locations.

For more on flower symbolism, try our recommended books from Amazon:
Folklore and Symbolism of Flowers, Plants and Trees
The Language of Flowers: Symbols And Myths
The Language of Flowers
The Meaning of Flowers
Forget-Me-Not: A Floral Treasury Sentiments and Plant Lore

Fascinating Facts About Impatiens

One of the unique features of impatiens is the explosive nature of the seed pods. Under extreme pressure, the ripe pods explode when they are disturbed. This scatters the seeds as much as twenty feet from the parent plant!

Impatiens also have a strange ability to change sex. The impatiens flower is male when it first opens. After a few days the pollen cap is shed and reveals female organs. This process is to keep the plant from self-pollination. However, it doesn’t always work. Some species naturally set seed without even opening their flowers. Other species are self-sterile.

Ecology of Impatiens Flowers

Impatiens come from many different ecological niches. Some forms epiphytes in trees. The plants rely on the tree for mechanical support but not nutrients, which they produce themselves. The plants are therefore not truly parasitic. Other impatiens are hardy perennials with underground rhizomes and tubers. This allows them to survive bitter freezing temperatures in arctic climates. Other impatiens are semi-aquatics that grow in edges of streams.

Impatiens Photos for Projects and Design

Need photos of impatiens? Please visit Dreamstime Stock Photography. Dreamstime is a distinguished leader in stock photography and a major supplier of high quality digital images at unbelievable prices. The Dreamstime database is renewed with thousands of fresh images and titles on a daily basis. See more photos here.

Plant Impatiens in Your Garden this Year

Find plants, trees and flowers at Nature Hills Nursery, Inc. Nature Hills Nursery offers one of the largest selections of high quality live plants and related products online, complete with extensive plant information, while maintaining an exceptional level of customer service.

Order Bouquets and Flowers
The extensive FloristOne catalog features flowers for every occasion and an extensive network of florists that allows for same day delivery to nearly all of the United States and Canada. Send a classic gift with special meaning for a birthday, baby's birth, holiday, sympathy, graduation or other special occasion. Nothing else communicates your sentiments quite as well as flowers. See our selection of bouquets and flowers here or go directly to the FloristOne website to see all flowers available.

©2008-2009 Living Arts Enterprises, LLC

Kathleen Karlsen, MA is a symbolism expert, professional artist and marketing consultant specializing in products and services related to natural health and personal growth. Find out more at Living Arts Media, Kathleen Karlsen Art, and Kathleen Karlsen Writing or contact Kathleen at kathleenkarlsen@msn.com.

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