General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Annual
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Partial Shade to Full Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Plant Height: 24 to 36 inches
Plant Spread: 18 to 24 inches
Fruit: Dehiscent
Other: Approximately 1/4 inch glabrous capsules containing numerous tiny seeds.
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Bi-Color: 2 lower lavender to pink petals with yellow dotted throat, 1 upper petal is white.
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Uses: Will Naturalize
Wildlife Attractant: Hummingbirds
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Propagation: Seeds: Days to germinate: May take several months.
Depth to plant seed: Shallowly sow at approximate depth of seed, covering with thin layer of fine grit or soil.
Other info: Prolific reseeders.
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots

Image
Common names
  • Poor Man's Orchid
  • Balfour's Touch Me Not
  • Balfour's Impatien

Photo Gallery
Location: Northern California, Zone 9b
Date: 2020-05-01
Love the charming delicate flowers on this lovely heirloom plant.
Location: IL
Date: 2013-08-10
Location: My garden
Location: My garden
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-07-16

Impatiens balfourii with Fuchsia 'Cardinal'. Photo taken Septembe
Location: The Netherlands
Date: 2016-09-20

Date: 2009-07-30
Photo courtesy of:Marper
Location: My garden in N E Pa. 
Date: 2015-11-17
Location: gardens at oldfields
Date: 2019-08-01

Photo credit: Dominicus Johannes Bergsma

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials
Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236
Date: 2017-07-13
"Impatiens balfourii , 2017, Poor Man's Orchid, Balfour's [Touch
Location: The Netherlands
Date: 2016-09-20
Location: in my garden
Date: 2017-06-19
Location: In my garden
Date: 2015-05-30
Location: gardens at oldfields
Date: 2019-08-01

Date: 2013-06-08
Location: My garden in Belgium
Date: 2012-09-29

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials
Location: all photos from my garden
Date: 2010-06-13
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-06-30
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-06-30
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-06-30
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-04-25
Wintersown seedlings
Location: My garden in Belgium
Date: 2012-09-29
Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236
Date: 2016-07-24
"Impatiens balfourii , 2016, Poor Man's Orchid, Balfour's Touch m
Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236
Date: 2017-07-13
"Impatiens balfourii , 2017, Poor Man's Orchid, Balfour's [Touch
Location: Clinton, Michigan 49236
Date: 2017-07-13
"Impatiens balfourii , 2017, Poor Man's Orchid, Balfour's [Touch
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-06-30
Location: Piani di Praglia, Genova, Italy
Photo courtesy of:Hectonichus
Location: In my garden
Date: 2015-05-30
self seeds everywhere
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