Impatiens in Zone 5a & 5b
Impatiens walleriana
When to plant impatiens in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. Impatiens needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Mar 1–Mar 8 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 24–May 31 |
| Estimated bloom | Aug 7–Aug 14 (~75 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-2 ft.
Impatiens flowers reliably in shade, which almost nothing else here does. It also carries a disease problem worth understanding before you plant a whole bed of it.
How impatiens fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Impatiens needs about 75 days from transplant to first harvest.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Impatiens.
Where to buy impatiens seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing impatiens" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Impatiens in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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