Every year I have grown hanging baskets of traditional impatient on my hanging planter hooks.
This year was a pleasant surprise. Impatiens galore growing in the soil below the hanging baskets that were all volunteers.
But why?
Unfortunately, I did not save the tag as to the specific genus, species and cultivar, but the plants were a mixed-flat. I remember in the past, 'Super Elfin Mix’ was a variety of different colors.
Impatiens walleriana, the genus and species of common impatient varieties, can reseed.
I remember last year late in the season when the flowers would fade, seed pods would form and burst showering seeds on the soil below.
The flowers that appeared this year are from last year’s seed and plants. Since the baskets hung in the same place year after year, seed fell below the plants and germinated early summer to put on a delightful fall flower show in late summer into fall.
The offspring of the baskets from last year are not the same colors as the original hybrids from last year.
Nor are they dwarfs. Some are 3 feet tall.
What a surprise!
The baskets only contain 6 plants each. But because they face East, they are protected from the heat of the afternoon sun.
In addition, they are watered each morning before I leave for work.
Miss one day and they will wilt and turn yellow.
What a nice fall surprise! Nature continues to amaze me.
