Impatiens have a tendency to reseed themselves. This means that if you have impatiens plants in your garden, there is a good chance that new plants will sprout up the following year without any effort on your part.
I have had personal experiences with impatiens reseeding themselves in my own garden. I planted impatiens in a few different areas one summer, and the following year, I noticed new impatiens plants popping up in unexpected places. It was a pleasant surprise to see these new plants, as it added a touch of color and beauty to areas of my garden that I had not originally planned for.
The reseeding ability of impatiens is due to their unique seed pods. After the flowers of the impatiens plant fade and drop off, small green seed pods form in their place. These pods eventually turn brown and dry out, and when they do, they split open to release their seeds. The seeds then fall to the ground, where they can germinate and grow into new plants.
It’s important to note that not all impatiens varieties have the same reseeding ability. Some varieties are more prone to reseeding than others. If you want to encourage reseeding, it’s a good idea to choose a variety that is known for its self-sowing tendencies.
To give the reseeding process a helping hand, you can collect the dried seed pods and sprinkle the seeds in areas where you would like new impatiens plants to grow. This can be a fun and easy way to expand your impatiens garden without having to buy new plants.
However, it’s worth mentioning that while reseeding can be a desirable trait for some gardeners, it can also be a nuisance for others. If you have limited space or prefer to have complete control over where your plants grow, you may want to deadhead the flowers of your impatiens plants before they form seed pods. Deadheading involves removing the spent flowers, which prevents the formation of seed pods and thus reduces the chances of reseeding.