After spending countless hours coaxing my shade garden into bloom, I’ve learned one thing for sure – impatiens can be both a delight and a drama queen in the garden. Those vibrant splashes of color that brighten up shady corners are actually pretty particular about their neighbors.
Last summer I watched my carefully planned border turn into a botanical battlefield when I planted impatiens alongside some aggressive companions. Trust me when I say that not all flowers play nicely together in the garden sandbox.
Let me share what I’ve discovered after 12 years of gardening successes (and plenty of failures) about what not to plant with these shade-loving favorites.
Understanding Impatiens
Impatiens manage to brighten up even the darkest corners of our gardens. With their juicy blooms in every color from white to orange to deep magenta, they’re the go-to annual for shade gardeners everywhere.
But impatiens are kind of high-maintenance when it comes to their growing partners. They have specific needs that can clash dramatically with other plants.
First off, impatiens are moisture lovers. They want consistently damp (but not soggy) soil that many other plants would find downright excessive. Plant them next to something that needs to dry out between waterings and somebody’s going to be unhappy.
They’re also shade seekers for the most part. While newer varieties can handle more sun, traditional impatiens will literally cook in full sunshine. Their shallow root systems mean they can’t compete well with aggressive neighbors who want to spread their roots everywhere.
And don’t even get me started on the dreaded impatiens downy mildew that swept through gardens a few years back. This devastating disease makes plant selection around impatiens even more critical.
Plants NOT to Plant With Impatiens
1. Marigolds
I once thought I was being clever by bordering my impatiens bed with marigolds. I wasn’t. While impatiens beg for shade, marigolds are sun-worshippers. The marigolds struggled in the shade while the impatiens that caught too much sun turned yellow and refused to bloom.
What makes it worse is that marigolds release compounds from their roots that can actually inhibit the growth of some other plants. Not exactly the neighborly behavior you want in a companion plant.
2. Geraniums
Another plant combo I’ve learned to avoid is geraniums with impatiens. Geraniums prefer things on the drier side – they actually perform better when the soil dries somewhat between waterings. Meanwhile, your impatiens will be wilting and throwing a fit if the soil isn’t consistently moist.
Plus, geraniums really want that full sunshine that would absolutely fry your impatiens. It’s a water and light mismatch that just sets both plants up for mediocrity.
3. Lavender
Lavender and impatiens? That’s like trying to room a desert cactus with a tropical fern. Lavender thrives in hot, dry, sunny conditions and has evolved to survive with minimal water. Plant it near your moisture-loving impatiens and you’re creating a no-win situation where someone’s going to suffer.
4. Petunias
These popular annuals might seem like they’d pair well with impatiens, but they’re actually terrible companions. Petunias are sun lovers that want good drainage and tend to get leggy and stop blooming in shade. They’re also heavy feeders that can compete with your impatiens for nutrients.
My gorgeous wave petunias completely overwhelmed a bed of impatiens, shading them out once the petunias got growing.
5. Zinnias
Similar to marigolds, zinnias crave full sun and tend to get powdery mildew in shady, humid conditions (exactly what impatiens prefer). They also grow relatively tall and can easily shade out shorter impatiens varieties, causing poor flowering.
6. Drought-Tolerant Succulents
This probably seems obvious but I’ve seen people try to mix succulents and impatiens in container gardens. The constant moisture that makes impatiens thrive will quickly rot most succulents. Meanwhile, the gritty, fast-draining soil that succulents need will leave impatiens perpetually thirsty.
7. Aggressive Ground Covers
Plants like vinca, pachysandra, and English ivy might seem like nice fillers around impatiens, but their aggressive growth habits can quickly overwhelm the more delicate root systems of impatiens. Last year my previously well-behaved vinca decided to stage a coup and practically strangled my impatiens bed.
8. Tomatoes
This might sound like a strange combination anyway but some folks try to tuck impatiens as companions in vegetable gardens. Bad idea with tomatoes. Not only do tomatoes need full sun while impatiens prefer shade, but tomatoes are also prone to fungal diseases that can spread to your impatiens.
9. Mint Family Plants
Mint, oregano, catnip and their relatives are garden thugs, plain and simple. Their spreading habit will quickly overwhelm impatiens. I once planted some oregano near an impatiens border and within two months was battling to reclaim territory for my poor overrun flowers.
10. Large Hostas
While small hosta varieties can work with impatiens the larger types will completely overshadow them. Some full-size hostas can stretch 3-4 feet across, with dense foliage that blocks light and rain from reaching anything planted underneath.
11. Morning Glory and Other Aggressive Vines
Never plant aggressive climbing vines near your impatiens beds. Morning glory in particular will use your impatiens as climbing support, ultimately pulling them down and blocking their light.
12. Junipers and Other Shallow-Rooted Conifers
The shallow root systems of many ornamental conifers will compete directly with your impatiens for water and nutrients. Plus, the soil around conifers tends to be more acidic than what impatiens prefer.
13. Roses
Roses and impatiens have completely different care requirements. Roses typically need more sun than impatiens can tolerate, and the fertilizers formulated for roses can be too strong for impatiens. Plus, many rose varieties are prone to fungal issues that can transfer to nearby plants.
Good Companion Plants for Impatiens
Don’t worry – not all plants are enemies of your impatiens. These are some companions that actually work well:
- Begonias – Similar light and water requirements make them natural partners
- Caladiums – Those gorgeous foliage plants love the same conditions
- Ferns – Create a woodland feel and share similar growing needs
- Coleus – Their colorful foliage complements impatiens blooms perfectly
- Small-leaved hostas – The smaller varieties can coexist peacefully
- Astilbe – These shade-tolerant perennials make good companions
Tips for Successful Companion Planting
If you want your impatiens to thrive alongside other plants keep these tips in mind:
- Group plants with similar water needs – this is probably the most important factor for impatiens
- Consider root competition – shallow-rooted plants will compete directly with impatiens
- Create “zones” in your garden based on light conditions rather than trying to force sun lovers to live in the shade
- Use containers to control aggressive plants while still keeping them in the same general area
- Remember that impatiens generally need protection from hot afternoon sun – eastern exposure is often ideal
- When in doubt, give plants a bit more space than you think they need
I’ve discovered that the old gardening advice of “the right plant in the right place” really is the secret to success. Instead of fighting your garden’s natural conditions, work with them and choose appropriate plant partnerships.
Final Thoughts
Gardening is always going to involve some trial and error. My first shade garden was a disaster because I tried to force plants together that simply didn’t want to be roommates. I’ve killed more impatiens than I care to admit by pairing them with bullies that hogged all the resources.
But that’s honestly how we learn, right? The plants teach us what they need if we’re willing to pay attention.
The good news is that impatiens, for all their particular preferences, are relatively forgiving. They’ll often bounce back once you correct your mistake and move incompatible neighbors away.
It’s good to keep in mind that the best garden isn’t necessarily the one with the most plants crammed into every inch. But more so the one where each plant has room to be its best self. Give your impatiens the right companions, consistent moisture and protection from harsh sun, and they’ll reward you with months of cheerful blooms.
And isn’t that colorful display exactly why we grow them in the first place?