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Turquoise Puya

Impatiens salpinx

You won't find this Impatiens in nurseries, since it isn't in cultivation yet.  Impatiens salpinx is a very unusual species with seahorse-shaped flowers in intense shades of pink and red.  This is a fantastic plant that deserves to be widely grown.  It is found only in a small mountain range on the border of Zimbabwe and Mozambique in southeast Africa, where it is at risk of becoming extinct.  I don't know anyone currently offering it.

Impatiens salpinx

Impatiens salpinx is a perennial species that gets surprisingly large, growing about 4 feet tall for me.  It has a tree-like shape, with attractive red stems that turn woody at the base.  Its leaves are equally attractive, with deep serrations that are usually tipped in red.  The plant flowers almost all year long!  The inch-long blossoms are suspended outward by bright red stems.  The species name "salpinx" is Greek for trumpet, in reference to the horn-shaped blooms.  This is a true species, not a cultivated hybrid.  You might be able to cross-breed it with some other Impatiens species to create interesting new hybrids.

Impatiens salpinx

I don't know the climate tolerances of this plant, but many related African Impatiens prefer temperatures below 85°F (29°C), and resent warmer conditions than this, especially when nights are warm (over 65°F / 18°C).  It has handled temperatures in the mid-30s (2°C), but i don't think it can survive frost.  It grows great indoors in a pot at normal room temperatures.  It can handle more sun than most Impatiens, but it looks the best when protected from strong afternoon sun.  It does not need direct sun to thrive - just bright light.  Like most Impatiens, it prefers moist, well-draining soil and regular feeding.  Over about 40-45% humidity is best.   In the right conditions, it is an easy plant.

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