New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED)
Vibrant New Guinea impatiens, Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED, features nonstop red blooms, thrives in full sun to part shade areas.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED is a highly valued hybrid selection within the New Guinea impatiens category, instantly recognizable by its dense, mounding habit and stunning, 2-inch wide red blooms. This cultivar offers superior performance compared to traditional impatiens varieties, making it a fantastic, low-fuss choice for gardeners seeking reliable season-long color. Flowering is consistent from late spring right up until the first frost arrives.
Unlike many relatives, Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED exhibits remarkable versatility in its light requirements, performing well even in full sun provided adequate moisture is maintained. This trait boosts its value in sunny borders and containers where other bedding plants might struggle in the midday heat. Gardeners appreciate the vibrant color impact provided by these vigorous New Guinea impatiens throughout the warmest months.
Growing robustly to about 2.5 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide, this plant fills space beautifully, whether used as mass planting or as a striking accent in mixed arrangements. For those gardening north of Zone 10, treating this cultivar as a brilliant annual ensures continuous, non-stop flowering, capitalizing on the full potential of Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED before it succumbs to winter cold.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Balsaminaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 10-11
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1.25-2.5 ft
- Spread: 1-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: May to frost
- Bloom Description: Red
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED thrives best when planted in spring after the danger of frost has passed. Ideal soil conditions involve an organically rich, well-drained medium. While New Guinea impatiens traditionally prefer part shade, this particular hybrid tolerates and often benefits from morning sun, especially if your summers are intensely hot and humid, where consistent moisture is crucial to prevent scorching.
Maintain an evenly moist environment; this plant cannot tolerate drying out. Due to its sun tolerance, expect water needs to increase, especially when placed in hotter, brighter locations or containers. Young plants benefit significantly from pinching back the stems early on to promote a fuller, more compact shape, maximizing the display of red flowers throughout the summer.
If plants become leggy mid-season, a light trim can revitalize their shape and encourage renewed blooming. In USDA Zones 10 and warmer, these herbaceous perennials can be maintained year-round. Gardeners in cooler climates often treat the strong performance of Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED as a seasonal treat, overwintering favored specimens indoors near a bright window after shearing them back.
Landscape Uses
The bold coloring and robust habit of Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED make it an excellent focal point in various landscape settings. Use these New Guinea impatiens for mass planting in flower beds, creating broad drifts of continuous red color that draw the eye. They also serve excellently as medium-height edging along walkways or paths where their dense foliage provides structure throughout the season.
For container gardens, window boxes, and hanging baskets, this cultivar performs admirably, providing height and dominant color. Since they handle more sun than traditional impatiens, they pair well with other sun-loving annuals, though ensure companions share similar medium water requirements. When grown in containers, remember that the soil volume is smaller, necessitating more diligent attention to watering the moisture-loving roots of the Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED.
As a tall ground cover substitute in medium-to-full shade areas, they can suppress weeds effectively while delivering superior flowering power. Their reliable, non-stop bloom schedule ensures these brilliant red additions maintain visual interest from planting well into the fall.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Hybrid New Guinea impatiens are a group of impatiens derived from crossing species like Impatiens hawkeri with related species. These hybrids usually feature larger flowers and better overall performance than standard impatiens, tolerating more sun if moisture is adequate. The specific cultivar, Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED (‘SAKIMP039’), is noted for its 2” wide red blooms and dense, compact, mounding habit, blooming profusely from late spring to frost.
Potential Problems
Plants exhibit high resistance to downy mildew, which is a major advantage. However, monitor for potential fungal blights, powdery mildew, and rots, which usually signal excessive moisture or poor air circulation. Common pests requiring vigilance include aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs, and spider mites. Foliage scorch can occur if the plant receives too much intense, hot afternoon sun without sufficient supplemental water.
Tolerances
- None listed
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is New Guinea impatiens suitable for?
Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED is winter hardy in USDA Zones 10 through 11. Gardeners outside these zones should treat this plant as an annual.
How large does New Guinea impatiens grow?
Mature plants typically reach a height of 1.25 to 2.5 feet tall, spreading approximately 1 to 1.5 feet wide, forming a dense, attractive mound.
What sun exposure does New Guinea impatiens need?
This specific hybrid performs well in full sun to part shade conditions, requiring medium water intake, especially when situated in brighter exposures.
When does New Guinea impatiens bloom?
This vibrant cultivar flowers continuously and reliably from May until the arrival of the first killing frost, displaying rich red blooms.
Conclusion
The Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED delivers exceptional, season-long performance with its rich red coloration and unusual sun tolerance for an impatiens. Its compact yet generous growth habit secures its spot as a premier bedding and container plant. Before planting, confirm your local hardiness zone, or plan to transition your beautiful New Guinea impatiens indoors before autumn temperatures dip near 40°F.
Companion Planting
When growing Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED, choose companions that appreciate similar medium water levels and rich soil drainage. Because this plant performs well in sunnier spots than its relatives, consider pairing it with sun-loving calibrachoa, petunias, or calibrachoa for cascading texture around containers. For shaded borders, hostas with light green or variegated foliage create a stunning contrast against the dark green leaves and bright red flowers of the Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED. Ensure any companion planting strategy accounts for the medium maintenance requirements and growth rate of these vigorous New Guinea impatiens.
Design Ideas for Red Blooms
The intense red of Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED lends drama to any planting scheme. Use them near cool-toned foliage like silver Artemisia or dusty miller to make the red truly pop through color contrast. For a tropical, hot-color palette, plant them alongside orange or yellow zinnias or marigolds, capitalizing on their sun tolerance. These plants are excellent for breaking up large green expanses, using short rows of Impatiens SUNPATIENS COMPACT FIRE RED as a vibrant, low-growing “ribbon” border between taller shrubs and lawn areas.
