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This is a close look at the rare Impatiens adenioides, an awesome new species discovered in Thailand. This unusual Impatiens makes a large, boulder-like caudex up to 12 inches across! It blooms almost constantly throughout the year, with beautiful, golden-yellow flowers that dangle from long racemes. It's a choice collector's plant that makes an impressive show plant. This is an endangered species that is extremely rare. I don't know anyone else currently offering it. Impatiens adenioides was named for its resemblance to Adenium. It looks somewhat like my Impatiens mirabilis, but it's a bit easier to grow in my experience. Each plant takes on a unique shape, usually with several tall, woody stems that grow to 3 feet tall. It has thick, succulent leaves that are mostly near the top of the stems, looking sort of like a palm tree. Its long racemes can have 40 or more blossoms, which open 2 or 3 at a time over several months. The flowers are slightly over an inch long and have a glossy sheen, which makes them appear wet. Unfortunately the plant is on the decline in its homeland of southern Thailand, where it is close to becoming extinct.
I find it has similar growing preferences to Impatiens mirabilis, a tropical species that does best above 60 degrees F (15°C). It tolerates heat fine, but it seems happiest between about 65 and 85 degrees F (18-30°C). The base grows quickly and may break your pot if you neglect to repot it! Give it a fast draining soil mix. A typical mix is 1 part coarse sand, 1 part pumice rock, and 1 part potting soil or coco fiber. Good cactus mixes can work too. It's fairly drought tolerant, but it grows best if the roots are kept moist. It likes bright, filtered light. Weaker sun should be fine, but protect it from strong afternoon sun. Over about 40-50% humidity is best. In the right conditions, it's an easy and very long-lived plant.
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