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Turquoise Puya

Impatiens claeri

Here’s something you might not have seen before.  Impatiens claeri is an exotic rarity with fascinating, sea-creature shaped blooms plus terrific variegation.  I'm not sure which i like better, the flowers or the foliage!  The oversized, 5-inch leaves have handsome silvery markings on a velvety, deep-green background, which is quite unusual for Impatiens.  Most people never guess that this is an Impatiens!  This is a first-rate houseplant that deserves to become very popular.  It is hard to find and rarely seen for sale.

Impatiens claeri

Impatiens claeri is a perennial species from rain forests of Cameroon and Gabon in West Africa.  It has an upright growth habit, with interesting, rigid stems that resemble wood.  It grows at a moderate pace, but it is one of the largest Impatiens species, growing to 10 feet tall!  Feel free to prune it down to any size you wish.  The flowers appear in waves throughout the year.  The 2-inch blossoms are hard to describe, but look sort of like an exotic seashell or orchid.  They are generally lilac in color, with reddish-pink markings along the side, fading to white toward the curved "tail".  This is a naturally-occurring species, not a cultivated hybrid.

Impatiens claeri is happiest between about 50 and 85 degrees F (10-29°C) with cool nights.  It can tolerate temperatures close to freezing, but it may perish from freezing temperatures.  Fortunately it grows great as a houseplant.  It prefers filtered sun or bright shade.  It will need some protection from strong afternoon sun.  It does not need a lot of light to thrive.  Like most Impatiens, it prefers fertile, well-draining soil that's kept evenly moist.  Over about 40-50% humidity is best.  In the right conditions, it's an easy and long-lived plant.

Impatiens claeri

 

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Turquoise Puya

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