Often the patterns look like small smiling faces. Most gardeners will buy flats of pansies each spring, but seeds can be started indoors 10-12 weeks before the last frost date. Pansies usually blossom throughout the spring. Removal of faded blossoms will keep new flowers coming. The impatiens plant can not only be used as a general garden plant, but it also does well along borders, in hanging baskets or in window boxes.
Most varieties are bushy and compact.
They will blossom throughout the season with single or double blossoms in reds, pinks, purple, salmon, white or two-tone combinations. In the winter they can be used as a houseplant. They prefer light, moist sandy loams in either sun or shade. Impatiens plants can be grown by seed but they are also readily propagated by stem cuttings. Flats of impatiens are frequently purchased by the home gardener in spring.