This beautiful heirloom annual was a favorite with the Victorians. The colorful, exotic looking flowers bloom in Red. The lovely, large double blossoms re-seed freely. The mature seed pods are this plant's amazing feature, exploding when touched. An excellent choice for bedding plants, or containers.

Balsam can be grown in containers on balconies or terraces and is a good edging or bedding plant.

Lady Slipper, Jumping Betty, and Balsamina hortensis.

Latin Name:

Impatiens balsamina

Common Names:

Balsam, rose balsam, touch-me-not, jumping Betty, lady’s slipper

Zone:

Grow as an annual in all growing zones

Size:

12-24 inches

Exposure:

Balsam plants grow well in both sun and shade. The best site offers some protection from afternoon sun, which may cause some browning of the foliage.

Bloom Period:

Summer to frost, about 60 days from seed to bloom

Description:

Flowers resemble small camellias or the double hybrids of impatiens. However, unlike hybrid impatiens, these come true from seed. Flowers are produced along the stem, but their vivid colors of pink, white, red, purple, and rose allow them to be seen easily amongst the foliage. Leaves are dark green, lance shaped, and slightly toothed.

Planting:

You probably won’t find transplants of balsam sold at the nursery, but don’t be intimidated by starting this forgiving annual from seed. The seeds sprout in as little as four days in moist soil at 70 degrees F. Start them indoors about eight weeks before your average last frost. Light hastens germination, so don’t cover the seeds with soil.

When soil temperatures begin to warm, usually as the average nighttime temperatures reach about 60 degrees, you can harden off your balsam seedlings and place them in the garden. Plant them about a foot apart in groups of five to seven or more for greatest impact.

Design Tips:

Like cosmos and cleome, balsam reseeds prolifically. Plant these three flowers together, and you will have a self-perpetuating garden that attracts butterflies and sphinx moths. Plant a large stand of balsam in your cottage garden to give it that heirloom authenticity. Balsam flowers grow well in the container garden. Their upright habit complements trailing flowers like portulaca or verbena.

Maintenance:

Keep balsam plants consistently moist throughout the growing season. They will continue to bloom throughout your worst heat waves, but only if they have enough to drink.

Fertilize with a balanced flower fertilizer every two weeks. The form of the plants makes deadheading nearly impossible, but removing seed heads would deny you the inevitable volunteers that will grace your garden next year.

If you want to collect seeds at the end of the season to plant in other areas, keep a baggie very close, as the ripe seedheads will burst and distribute their contents everywhere when you pinch them.

Other details:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season

Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)

Patent Information:
Non-patented

Propagation Methods:
From seed; direct sow after last frost

Seed Collecting:
Collect seedhead/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry

Companion Plants

We have a wide variety of Organic, Heirloom, Rare, Open-pollinated & NON GMO ,Vegetable, Herb, Fruit,and Flower Seeds for sale.

http://stores.ebay.com/CaribbeanGarden

· Pure, organic, heirloom seeds

· Grown and hand packed in the USA

· Untreated, Non-GMO, Pesticide Free

"Most hot pepper varieties require a constant temperature of 80 F to 85 F to germinate!"

Important, Please Read

All seeds have been test sown to ensure germination. Please familiarize yourself with growing conditions and instructions for your seeds before you plant them, as all seeds are different. Basic growing instructions can be found under each listing.

We Cannot Guarantee how much you will be able to grow, as too many variables come into play, soil condition, your ability to garden, weather etc. I guarantee that they arrive as described and are in good viable condition and the germination rates are accurate.

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SHIPPING

We try our best to ship orders on schedule ("shipped" estimated arrival,) however, during the busy season, (January-May) package may delayed.
Yes, We Combine Shipping!

If you are purchasing multiple items and wish to take advantage of our combined shipping rates, Place each item in your eBay shopping cart until you are finished shopping.Always use eBay Shopping Cart to collect, buy and pay at once for all the seeds together to avoid possible shipping over-payments.

Please Pay for all items at once, Combine shipping discounts does not apply to item that has been purchased and paid separately.

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FOR INTERNATIONAL BUYERS

If you are purchasing multiple items and wish to take advantage of our combined shipping rates, Place each item in your eBay shopping cart until you are finished shopping..Then “Request Total From Seller”

If checkout makes a mistake figuring combined shipping, I will refund the amount.
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RETURN POLICY
RETURN YOUR ORDER FOR A REFUND, We will process your refund when we receive your return.
· Original shipping fees & Handling charges are Non-Refundable.
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Additional Policies and FAQs

When To Plant ?

The best time to plant in your area depends on the climate and rainfall patterns as well as the species you are planting. In cool climates, plant annuals, perennials or mixtures of annuals and perennials in spring, early summer or late fall. Fall plantings should be late enough so that seeds do not germinate until spring. Perennials can also be sown in early fall provided that there are at least 10-12 weeks of growing time before the plants go dormant for the winter. Late fall plantings are advantageous when supplemental irrigation cannot be provided and adequate rainfall is anticipated in the spring.

In mild climates, plant during the cooler months of the year, fall through spring, for best results. Fall plantings done prior to periods of rainfall will insure an early display of flowers the following spring.

Cold Treatment

Dampen a paper towel, place the flower seeds on the towel and seal it in a ziploc bag. Place the bag in the refrigerator for 3 - 4 weeks.

What is an heirloom or heritage seed?
The terms heirloom and heritage are synonymous. An heirloom plant is an open-pollinated, cultivated plant, or cultivar. Heirloom plants are not used in modern large-scale agricultural, but they were traditionally grown during earlier periods in human history. All heirloom seed are open-pollinated.
What is the difference between open-pollinated and hybrid seeds?
Open-pollinated plants are pollinated by birds, insects, wind, or other natural means. Under these conditions the plant will produce seeds naturally. When these seeds are harvested and re-planted they will reproduce the same plant as the parent. Conversely, a hybrid plant is the result of controlled pollination of inbred parent plants. The plant’s seeds are often sterile and, if they do germinate, they will not reliably produce the same plant as the parent or the yields.
What is the difference between GMO and non-GMO seeds?
A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose genetic substance has been changed using genetic engineering methods. Non-GMO seeds have not been genetically changed, and they are traditionally the same as they were originally created. Non-GMO seeds have all of the nutrition that animal and human bodies need for maximum growth and nutrition. Traditional seeds grow into plants that have been consumed for thousands of years. Non-GMO seeds offer you the peace of mind that the foods you grow and eat are as nature intended.

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IMPATIENS FLOWERS

Impatiens Flowers Seeds - Blues Mix ~ Great for shaded area ,Containers, Hanging Baskets, window boxes, garden beds,dcontinuous color

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