Shade-tolerant annual; continuous bloom; needs consistent moisture; avoid afternoon sun
Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.
| Zone | Last Frost | Start Indoors | Transplant | Direct Sow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2A | May 30 | Mar 21 | May 30 | — |
| Zone 3B | May 15 | Mar 6 | May 15 | — |
| Zone 4A | May 8 | Feb 27 | May 8 | — |
| Zone 4B | May 1 | Feb 20 | May 1 | — |
| Zone 5A | Apr 25 | Feb 14 | Apr 25 | — |
| Zone 5B | Apr 18 | Feb 7 | Apr 18 | — |
| Zone 6A | Apr 21 | Feb 10 | Apr 21 | — |
| Zone 6B | Apr 10 | Jan 30 | Apr 10 | — |
| Zone 7A | Apr 5 | Jan 25 | Apr 5 | — |
| Zone 7B | Mar 28 | Jan 17 | Mar 28 | — |
| Zone 8A | Mar 20 | Jan 9 | Mar 20 | — |
| Zone 8B | Mar 12 | Jan 1 | Mar 12 | — |
| Zone 9A | Feb 28 | Dec 20 | Feb 28 | — |
| Zone 9B | Feb 15 | Dec 7 | Feb 15 | — |
| Zone 10A | Feb 1 | Nov 23 | Feb 1 | — |
| Zone 10B | Jan 15 | Nov 6 | Jan 15 | — |
| Zone 11A | Jan 1 | Oct 23 | Jan 1 | — |
Impatiens are the go-to annual for shady spots — they thrive where sun-lovers fail, producing mounds of color with minimal effort.
Good companions: hostas, ferns, begonias, caladiums
Avoid planting near: Full sun (causes wilting and sunscald)
Ornamental; no deadheading required — self-cleaning