Impatiens

The genus Impatiens is enormous, comprising more than 1000 species — many of which, although highly desirable, remain little known to Western gardeners. Ray Morgan examines Impatiens through a botanical lens, describing their physiology, morphology and seed dispersal mechanisms, then moves on to place impatiens in historical context. Perhaps most excitingly, the author highlights a selection of gardenworthy impatiens native to the world's widely diverse cultural habitats, describing over 200 species ranging from Madagascar to New Guinea hybrids. With more than 160 colour photos complementing the detailed plant descriptions, Impatiens is essential reading for curious-minded gardeners keen to unearth this fascinating and largely unexplored genus.