Impatiens tinctoria

This hardy perennial impatiens will delight you with HUGE deliciously fragrant flowers. Such a cool garden specimen to amaze all your plant nerd friends! Impatiens tinctorial is a rare beauty found in high elevation rainforests of East Africa. It has a big presence growing to 6’ with 3-inch white flowers with a red blotch that look like big orchids with a long arching spur. Did I mention the flowers are sooo fragrant? She will bloom Summer through fall. Like me she dislikes intense heat and is happiest with a bit of shade or filtered light with regular water. Perennial. May self-seed, but this isn’t a thug like some others. Give her room at 6’ tall and 3’ wide. Zone 7-10

Herbal uses: The large bulbous tubers were pounded to create a dye ‘tinctoria’ by indigenous women and used as a skin tint and fabric dye. It is also used as an anti-fungal.