← Plant Guides

How to Grow Balsam Purple King

Wikimedia Commons

Balsam Purple King

Impatiens balsamina

flower

Balsam Purple King is a vibrant ornamental flowering plant featuring stunning deep purple double blossoms that cover bushy, compact plants. This tender annual produces abundant, ruffled flowers throughout the growing season and is prized for adding rich color to gardens, borders, and containers. The plant thrives in warm conditions and produces seed pods that explosively disperse mature seeds when touched, earning balsams the nickname 'touch-me-nots.'

Looking for a specific variety?

Purple King Scarlet White Pink Red Mixed Colors

When should you plant Balsam Purple King in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Balsam Purple King timeline →

Example Balsam Purple King timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Balsam Purple King

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. First Balsam Purple King blooms

    Around Jun 16

    ≈ 60 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Balsam Purple King dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Partial shade to light shade, 3-6 hours of indirect sunlight daily; tolerates full sun in cooler climates
💧
Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; water regularly during dry periods, especially in warm weather; prefers humidity and benefits from misting
📏
Spacing: 12-18 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 60-75 days from transplant to first flowers
🌱
Planting depth: Sow seeds on soil surface (light-dependent germination); transplants 2-3 weeks before last frost date

Soil

Type: Rich, moist, well-draining soil with organic matter
pH: 6.0-7.0
Amendments:
Compost or aged manure Peat moss or coconut coir Perlite for drainage

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives as an annual in all zones; best results in zones 3-11 when planted after last frost

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b

Sign up free to see if Balsam Purple King grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.

Get my Balsam Purple King timeline →

Growth Stages

1

Seed Germination

1-2 weeks

Tiny seeds germinate on the soil surface under light; first cotyledons emerge within 7-14 days

Do not cover seeds with soil; maintain consistent moisture and warm temperatures (70-75°F); provide bright indirect light

2

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Delicate seedlings with 2-4 true leaves develop; plants are small and tender

Provide bright light to prevent leggy growth; keep soil moist; maintain warmth; thin or prick out seedlings to prevent crowding

3

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Plants develop bushy foliage with multiple branching stems; leaves are bright green and lance-shaped; no flowers yet

Pinch growing tips at 6-8 inches to encourage branching; maintain consistent moisture; fertilize every 2 weeks with balanced fertilizer; ensure partial shade

4

Flowering

6-12 weeks until frost

Deep purple double flowers begin appearing in leaf axils; flowers are ruffled and fully double; prolific blooming throughout season

Continue regular watering and consistent moisture; deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms; shift to higher phosphorus fertilizer; maintain partial shade for extended blooming

5

Seed Formation

3-4 weeks after flowering

Plump seed pods form after flowers fade; pods become turgid and fragile; mature seeds develop inside pods

Allow some flowers to set seed if saving seeds; avoid touching pods until completely mature and ready to burst; collect pods before they naturally eject seeds

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Hostas Ferns Impatiens (other colors) Begonias Shade-tolerant perennials Caladiums Coleus

Avoid planting near:

Full-sun-only plants Drought-tolerant succulents Root-competitive shrubs with high moisture demands

Common Pests

  • Increase humidity and mist foliage; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7-10 days; isolate heavily infested plants

  • Yellow sticky traps; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; improve air circulation

  • Strong water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap; neem oil; encourage natural predators

  • Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; isolate infected plants; wipe leaves with alcohol-soaked cloth

  • Improve air circulation; avoid wetting foliage; spray with sulfur or neem oil at first signs; remove heavily affected leaves

Uses

🍳

Edible Flowers

Culinary

Balsam flowers are edible and occasionally used as garnishes in salads and desserts for their ornamental appearance and mild, slightly sweet flavor. The petals add visual interest to culinary presentations. [source]

🏠

Garden Ornament

Household

The striking deep purple double flowers make Balsam Purple King an excellent choice for garden beds, borders, shade gardens, and container plantings. Its compact bushy habit provides reliable color throughout the warm season. [source]

🏠

Cut Flowers

Household

Fresh-cut balsam flowers can be used in small floral arrangements and bouquets, though they have a shorter vase life than many cut flowers (typically 3-5 days). Best harvested in early morning for longest vase life. [source]

💊

Traditional Medicine

Medicinal

In traditional Asian and Ayurvedic medicine, Impatiens species are used to support skin health and were historically applied topically in poultices. Modern scientific evidence remains limited, though the plant is recognized in ethnobotanical traditions. [source]

🎨

Flower Pressing and Drying

Craft

The delicate ruffled petals are attractive for flower pressing projects, dried flower crafts, and botanical art. Pressing should be done quickly after harvest for best color retention. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

For ornamental display, pinch flower buds early in the season to encourage more bushiness, then allow flowers to develop. To collect seeds, monitor pods closely and harvest them just before they burst (usually 3-4 weeks after flowers fade). Place mature pods in a paper bag to catch seeds as they naturally eject. Allow seeds to dry completely before storing in cool, dry conditions.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Balsams earned the common name 'touch-me-not' from their seed pods' explosive dispersal mechanism—when ripe pods are touched or jostled, they instantly split open and catapult seeds up to 6 feet away, aiding natural seed distribution.
  • 🌱 The plant has been cultivated for centuries in Asia and was introduced to European gardens in the 16th century, where Victorian gardeners prized double-flowered varieties like Purple King for their luxurious ruffled blooms.
  • 🌱 Despite their shade-loving nature, balsams were traditionally used as a natural dye plant in Southeast Asia, with flowers and leaves producing various red and purple hues used to color textiles and cosmetics.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Annual Deadhead Full Sun Partial Shade pH True Leaves
Shop Balsam Purple King plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Balsam Purple King planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Balsam Purple King seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Balsam Purple King timeline →