Rare, unusual Impatiens tuberosa - Orchid-shaped blooms and fat caudex / tuber

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Rare, unusual Impatiens tuberosa - Orchid-shaped blooms and fat caudex / tuber:
$20.30

The island of Madagascar is home to many unusual, caudex-forming succulents, including the rare Impatienstuberosa. This beautiful species is quite different from the common bedding Impatiens. It makes an attractive, woody caudex, which enablesthe plant to survive the dry season. Its orchid-shaped blossoms are a vivid shade of magenta, and have yellow & red markings inside the white throat. This is a choice collector\'s plant that makes a great show plant. It is rare both in the wild and in cultivation. I don\'t know anyone else offering seeds.

Impatiens tuberosa forms multiple branches from the caudex, and can grow to 24 inches tall, but usually shorter. The shape of the caudex is variable, with each plant taking on a different shape. The caudex gradually increases in size each year, eventually growing up to 12 inches wide. The attractive foliage is olive green with reddish undersides when grown in bright light. In the wild, the plant normally drops its succulent branchesduring the dry winters, and emerges from dormancy in spring. In cultivation, the plant often stays evergreen if watered regularly and kept warm. The blooms are aboutan inch long and appear at the tops of the branches pretty much non-stop throughout the year. This species may be cross-bred with certain other Impatiens species to create great new hybrids, likethis one.

Impatiens tuberosa grows in tropical lowland forests, where temperatures get in the upper 80s (31°C). It can often tolerate warmer conditions than that if nights are cool (below 65°F / 18°C). It\'s possible that consistently hot days with warm nights might stress it. The tuber can probably survive a light frost, but i recommend keepingthe plant above 50 degrees F (10°C).

It grows well indoors in a small pot, and can even be grown as a bonsai plant! It prefers a well-draining soil mix, such as equal parts of potting soil and perlite or coarse sand. It looks best when given regular water and fertilizer, just like other Impatiens. It can take more sun than typical Impatiens, but give it some protection from strong afternoon sun. Bright shade works well too. Over about 40% humidity isbest. In the right conditions, it is an easy, long-lived plant.

This sale is for 8 fresh seeds. They can flower in 6 months! The germination rate is excellent when you follow the tips on my website - Promptly sent in a padded envelope. Outside the United States, a tracking number is free if your country is listed here; otherwise it is available for an additional $15 (request it after the sale). Please contact me if you have any questions.

Save on shipping when you win one of my other items (request a combined invoice to receive discounted shipping). Not all plants can receive discounted shipping. Please email me with any questions.

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Strange Wonderful Things is your source for exotic, hard-to-find plants that bring the excitement back into gardening! Most of the plants in my collection are rarely seen in nurseries, and a few are sold nowhere else on the internet. I am a low-volume grower and don\'t produce many plants, so if you see something you like, please offer early! I personally answer all emails, and provide free \"technical support\" through my website. - Good growing! - Jeff

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