Impatiens hochstetteri subsp. hochstetteri
Nominate subspecies of a Himalayan perennial flowering plant in the Balsaminaceae family, native to the Himalayas (India and Nepal), thriving in moist, shady spots with bright yellow flowers and red centers.
Common Names
Hochstetter's Touch-Me-Not, Hochstetter's Balsam, Hochstetter's Impatiens, Wild Balsam, Common Wild Forest Impatiens, Ihlula, Kruidjie-Roer-My-Nie, Umadolwane
Summary
Native to tropical and southeastern Africa, including South Africa and Eswatini, the plant is an annual or subshrub that grows in moist shaded forest floors along streams and sometimes rock crevices, up to about 65 cm tall, with spirally arranged, ovate-lanceolate to narrowly elliptic leaves 4–10 cm long that are thinly hairy on the underside and glossy dark green; new growth can be purplish red and green; flowers are axillary, solitary or in small clusters, mostly pale pink with white on the back and two spots at the base of the posterior sepal, featuring butterfly-like lower petals and a thread-like spur about 8–24 mm, blooming almost year-round; and the fruit is a capsule with seeds that disperse explosively on touch, aided by water flow in forest streams.
Cultivation and practical uses: prefers cool, shady areas near water in moist, shaded soil; can be propagated from seeds or cuttings; seed propagation involves harvesting after bloom, sowing on the surface of a light seed-starting mix with light, indoors 2–3 months before the last frost, keeping the soil warm and moist; cuttings of firm green stems about 10–15 cm long are prepared with a 45-degree cut below a node, allowed to callus, and rooted in soil or water, with soil kept moist and good airflow; post-propagation care calls for bright indirect light and managing pests such as spider mites with non-toxic miticides if needed; uses include leaf and stem infusions for eczema and ground cover when planted in shade.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
1-2 feet
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade, also listed as full sun or full shade.
Soil Type
Moist, well-drained soil.
Soil Drainage
Moist, well-drained soil
Bloom Color
Pale pink to mauve
Bloom Time
All year round
Foliage Color
Dark green
Fall Foliage Color
Dark green
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Fast
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Division
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Subspecies
- Publication
- Unknown
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Ericales
- Family
- Balsaminaceae
- Genus
- Impatiens
- Species
- Impatiens hochstetteri
Synonyms
Balsamina capensis Impatiens gilgii Impatiens micrantha Impatiens duthieae Impatiens marlothiana Impatiens capensis