balfourii, which offers hundreds of pink and white flowers and self-seeds, umm, freely. And of course we can't leave out the notorious I. capensis gets to 3 feet and bears lovely golden-orange, red-spotted upturned "goblets" on long stems. mengtszeana offers subtle hues of gold and apricot. glandulifera 'Wine Red,' known as policeman's helmet, offers somewhat large burgundy blooms on 4-foot-tall plants, while the low-growing I. It's deciduous, but, if content, returns more vigorous the next year. namchabarwensis, known as jewelweed, offers exquisite ultramarine 2-inch blooms. They are a bit frost tender, so mulching them will help them deal with winter.Ĭockatoo impatiens may be one of the showier varieties, but there are many outstanding species impatiens. Many report their specimens going deciduous in the winter, but mine has stayed evergreen for five years. My specimen is in an elevated bed under a crabapple tree and loves its bright indirect light. They'll adapt, even to the point of abandoning their mostly vertical ways and stretching out horizontally. You can give them lots of open space in which to shine or tuck them in a more packed space. They make excellent understory plants or colorful companions to evergreen shade shrubs. 'Congo Cockatoo' likes shade and will tolerate everything from bright indirect light to a little morning sun. They appear singly or in small clusters in the leaf axils, and there's no missing the intense bicolored "birds." Mature plants can reach 3 feet in height with an equal width. The festive, waxy blooms feature distinctive hooked spurs, which seem almost like miniature tails. Once it begins blooming, usually in the first year, the 1 1/2-inch flowers seem to keep coming and coming. Keep the potting mix lightly moist by watering when the top of the soil feels dry, but never let the pot stand in water.įertilize the plant twice during spring and summer, using a regular fertilizer formulated for indoor plants.Like many species, impatiens features succulent stems and elliptic, scalloped, dark green leaves - in this species, up to 9 inches in length. Place the plant in low or filtered sunlight. If you live in a cool winter climate, you can grow Congo cockatoo impatiens indoors in a pot filled with good-quality commercial potting mix. Always water immediately because fertilizer may scorch the roots. Don’t overfeed because too much fertilizer creates a full, bushy plant at the expense of blooms. Cut the plant back by 3 or 4 inches (8-10 cm.) if it begins to look tired and leggy in midsummer.įertilize the plant twice during the growing season, using a general-purpose liquid or dry fertilizer. Pinch the growing tips of newly planted Condo cockatoo impatiens to encourage full, bushy growth. A layer of bark chips or other organic mulch keeps the roots moist and cool. ![]() As a general rule, one weekly watering is sufficient unless the weather is hot, but always water immediately if the foliage begins to look wilted. Water the plant regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy. Congo Cockatoo CareĬaring for Congo cockatoo impatiens is simple and this colorful, vigorous plant thrives with minimal attention. The plant performs best in rich soil, so dig in plenty of compost or well-rotted manure before planting. Although the plant will grow in partial sunlight in a cool climate, it won’t tolerate bright sunlight or hot summers. (7 C.) and above are ideal for this tender perennial.Ĭongo cockatoo impatiens prefer a location in full shade, especially if you live in a warm, sunny climate. (2 C.), but the plant won’t survive even a light frost. ![]() How to Grow Congo Cockatoo ImpatiensĬongo cockatoo impatiens tolerate temperatures as low as about 35 degrees F. Read on for tips on how to grow Congo cockatoo impatiens plants. Named for the clusters of bright, orange-red, and yellow, beak-like blooms, Congo cockatoo flowers grow year-round in mild climates. What is a Congo cockatoo plant ( Impatiens niamniamensis)? This African native, also known as parrot plant or parrot impatiens, provides a spark of bright color in shady areas of the garden, much like other impatiens flowers.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |