The Charm of Garden Balsam
I’ll admit it – I’ve been suckered in by the promise of paradise on a seed packet more times than I care to count. Most of the time, the result is disappointing – a handful of sad plants instead of the lush, bountiful blooms the package depicts. But every now and then, a surprise pops up that makes all the failed attempts worth it.
That’s exactly what happened when my husband sowed a shade mix in a partly sunny spot in our backyard last summer. A few weeks later, we had a thick stand of something unknown taking over the bed. As the days passed, the seedlings grew tall and revealed red, sawtooth-edged leaves. We almost pulled them up, thinking they were weeds, but decided to wait and see.
Boy, am I glad we did. After a couple of months, those odd plants burst into a vivid display of fuchsia, violet, pale-pink, and white blossoms. A quick search revealed our mystery plants were none other than the garden balsam, or Impatiens balsamina – a charming annual that was once a staple in every well-appointed Victorian-era garden.
A Forgotten Favorite Makes a Comeback
The genus name Impatiens may be familiar to many gardeners today, as the I. walleriana variety is the most popular annual flower in the US. But our grandparents and great-grandparents knew and loved the original Impatiens – I. balsamina. This heirloom annual was considered an essential bedding plant until the mid-20th century, when the newer, flashier I. walleriana cultivars came onto the scene.
While I. walleriana’s flat, open blossoms lie on top of the plant for all to admire, I. balsamina’s blooms are tucked away under a crown of pointed leaves, making them a bit more elusive. To really showcase the flowers, some gardeners even carefully remove a few leaves. Despite its more modest display, I. balsamina was just as beloved by Victorian-era green thumbs as its modern counterpart is today.
In fact, you can find I. balsamina in most 19th-century seed catalogs for flowering plants. Hovey & Co. of Boston offered 11 different color options in their 1845 directory, including striped, mottled, and spotted varieties. Vicks Floral Guide for 1888 lauded balsam as “one of the most beautiful and popular of our Annuals,” and recommended displaying the flowers in a shallow dish or basket of moist sand or moss to better appreciate their beauty.
A Storied History and Diverse Uses
The story of garden balsam, however, goes back much further than the 19th century. Believed to be native to India and Myanmar, this plant somehow made its way around the world from Southeast Asia, landing in Europe by the 16th century and North America by the 18th. In fact, Thomas Jefferson himself grew garden balsam at one of his Virginia plantations in 1767, and continued ordering seeds from Philadelphia nearly five decades later.
But it’s not just gardeners who have long been captivated by this charming annual. The blossoms of I. balsamina have been used for all sorts of creative and practical purposes over the centuries. Girls in the late 1800s and early 1900s used to hook the flower’s spur in their ears, wearing it as a natural earring. In Korea, young women have traditionally dyed their fingernails orange-red using the petals in the spring.
And it’s not just for decoration – garden balsam has medicinal uses as well. Traditional Asian folk medicine promotes ingesting the plant to improve blood circulation and relieve pain. In Bangladesh, the flowers are used to treat burns, while in the Philippines, the leaves are pounded into a poultice for herpetic whitlow. Even in the US, garden balsam has a reputation for soothing the itchiness of poison ivy rashes.
Embracing the Exuberance
As enamored as I am with garden balsam’s rich history and diverse uses, I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive when I realized just how easily this plant self-sows. A single plant can produce over 100 seed pods, each containing 12 to 17 seeds. And in my own backyard, I counted 35 to 40 plants! With seeds that don’t even need soil cover to germinate, I knew I was in for a bit of a battle to keep this enthusiastic spreader contained.
But you know what? I’ve decided to embrace the exuberance. In my Zone 6a garden, where most other annuals have long since faded by midsummer, garden balsam’s brilliant blossoms bring a welcome pop of color all the way up until the first frost. And really, what’s the harm in a little self-sowing, when the result is such a cheery, eye-catching display?
So next year, I plan to let the garden balsam have its way. I’ll enjoy the vivid fuchsia, violet, and white blooms for as long as they grace my garden, and then I’ll simply pull up the excess seedlings when they inevitably pop up, leaving plenty to take their place the following season. After all, as the saying goes, “the best things in life are free” – and in the case of garden balsam, that includes its abundant, self-sustaining nature.
If you’re looking to add some long-lasting, low-maintenance color to your own landscape, I can’t recommend garden balsam highly enough. Just head over to A1 Landscape Construction to get started. Their team of experts can help you select the perfect flowering plants to create your own bountiful blooms.
Cultivating Carefree Color
Garden balsam is an annual that thrives in Zones 2 to 11, making it a versatile choice for gardeners across a wide range of climates. To get the most out of this easy-to-grow plant, simply sow the seeds or transplant seedlings into a spot with full sun to part shade and well-drained, nutrient-rich soil after the last frost has passed.
While you can pinch back the young stems to encourage bushier growth, it’s not strictly necessary, as garden balsam naturally has sturdy, upright stems that reach an average height of 2 feet. Just be sure to give the plants plenty of room – at least 1 foot of space between each one.
To keep those blooms coming all season long, you’ll need to remove the seed pods as they form, stopping about a month before your first average frost to allow for natural reseeding. And that’s about it! With minimal effort, you can enjoy a vibrant, low-maintenance floral display that will dazzle your senses from midsummer through fall.
So why not let garden balsam work its magic in your own landscape? Whether you tuck it into garden beds, use it to line walkways, or feature it in containers, this cheerful annual is sure to bring a whole lot of “bountiful blooms” to your outdoor spaces. With its rich history, diverse uses, and carefree nature, what’s not to love?
Brilliant Blooms for Every Season
Of course, garden balsam isn’t the only flowering plant that can lend long-lasting color and visual interest to your landscape. Here at A1 Landscape Construction, we specialize in helping homeowners and business owners create year-round curb appeal with a carefully curated selection of blooming beauties.
For early spring, our experts recommend incorporating plants like serviceberry, hellebores, and Virginia bluebells, which burst into flower even before the last frost has melted. As the weather warms, crabapples, azaleas, and flowering dogwoods take center stage, followed by a summer symphony of daylilies, coneflowers, and zinnias.
And the show doesn’t stop there. As autumn arrives, you can look forward to a stunning display of fall foliage from trees like the Autumn Blaze maple, along with late-blooming stunners like chrysanthemums, asters, and flowering kale. Even in the depths of winter, strategic evergreen plantings and structural elements like birdbaths and garden art can keep your outdoor spaces looking their best.
No matter the time of year, the team at A1 Landscape Construction can help you cultivate a lush, visually captivating landscape that’s the envy of the neighborhood. So why settle for a lackluster yard when you can have bountiful blooms and brilliant color all season long? Contact us today to get started!
