How to Grow Impatiens Super Elfin

Impatiens Super Elfin

Impatiens walleriana 'Super Elfin'

flower

Super Elfin is a compact, dwarf impatiens cultivar known for its prolific flowering and bushy growth habit. It produces abundant small flowers in a wide range of vibrant colors and is ideal for containers, borders, and shaded garden areas. This variety is prized for its reliability and continuous blooms throughout the growing season.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Partial shade to shade; 2-4 hours of indirect sunlight daily. Tolerates full sun in cooler climates but prefers afternoon shade in hot regions.

💧

Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Reduce watering slightly in cool weather. Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.

📏

Spacing: 8-12 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 30-45 days to first flowers

🌱

Planting depth: Surface sow seeds lightly; do not bury. If transplanting seedlings, plant at the same depth as the cell.

Soil

Type: Rich, well-draining, moist potting soil or garden loam

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Peat moss or coconut coir Perlite or vermiculite for drainage Compost or well-rotted leaf mold

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Grown as an annual in zones 2-9; perennial in zones 10-11

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

Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny cotyledons emerge and develop true leaves. Plant is very delicate and requires high humidity and consistent moisture.

Provide bright, indirect light and maintain 70-75°F. Keep soil moist with a spray bottle. Once true leaves appear, ensure air circulation to prevent damping off.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Plant develops multiple stems and leaves, creating a bushy mound. Roots establish and plant becomes more robust.

Pinch growing tips when 2-3 inches tall to encourage branching. Maintain consistent moisture and provide bright, indirect light. Begin light fertilizing weekly.

Flowering Initiation

1-2 weeks

First flower buds appear in leaf axils. Plant continues to produce new growth while beginning bloom.

Maintain consistent watering and bright conditions. Continue weekly fertilizing with a balanced or slightly higher phosphorus formula. Remove any damaged leaves.

Flowering & Blooming

Until frost (10-16 weeks)

Plant is covered with small, colorful flowers continuously. Compact, dwarf habit reaches full maturity at 6-12 inches tall.

Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continued blooming, though Super Elfin is self-cleaning. Water regularly, fertilize every 7-10 days. Monitor for pests and disease.

Senescence

Variable

As temperatures drop in fall or after extended flowering, plant growth slows and flower production decreases.

In zone 10-11, cut back plant if desired for regrowth. In cooler zones, compost spent plants. Collect seeds if desired before final frost.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Begonias Ferns Hostas Caladiums Browallia Torenia Wishbone flower Shade-loving coleus

Avoid planting near:

Aggressive spreading plants in containers Root-competing perennials in the same small pot

Common Pests

Spray with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil weekly. Increase air circulation. Isolate infected plants.
Mist foliage regularly to increase humidity. Spray with neem oil or miticide. Ensure adequate air circulation.
Remove with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. Spray with insecticidal soap. Isolate infested plants.
Reduce watering frequency slightly; allow soil surface to dry slightly between waterings. Use yellow sticky traps. Apply diatomaceous earth to soil surface.
No cure; remove and destroy infected plants. Control thrips (vector) with insecticides. Disinfect tools between plants.

Uses

🌿

Container & Bedding Display

Ornamental

Super Elfin's compact, mounding habit and prolific blooms make it ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes, containers, and as edging in shaded borders. Its dwarf size ensures abundant color without taking up excessive space. [source]

🏠

Shade Garden Solution

Household

This cultivar excels in partially shaded and shaded locations where many flowering plants struggle, making it an excellent choice for north-facing beds, under tree canopies, and around foundation plantings. [source]

🦋

Pollinator Attraction

Wildlife

Impatiens flowers attract bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators, adding food sources and activity to gardens and patios throughout the season. [source]

🎨

Floral Arrangements & Fresh Cutting

Craft

While delicate, Super Elfin flowers can be used in small fresh arrangements and mixed bouquets, though they have a short vase life. The vibrant colors add a cheerful touch to indoor displays. [source]

Harvest Tips

Impatiens are ornamental flowers primarily enjoyed in the garden or in containers. Deadhead spent blooms regularly by pinching them off with fingers or pruners to maintain a neat appearance and encourage continuous flowering. Flowers are not typically harvested for arrangements. To save seeds (though seedlings may not be identical to parent due to cross-pollination), allow flowers to set seed pods, which will burst open when mature.

Fun Facts

🌱 The name 'Impatiens' refers to the plant's seed pods, which burst open explosively when ripe and touched—dispersing seeds up to several feet away.
🌱 Super Elfin was bred specifically to be more compact and floriferous than standard impatiens, making it an improvement for commercial horticulture and home gardeners.
🌱 Impatiens flowers are rich in nectar and highly attractive to hummingbirds, making them a favorite of these birds in shaded garden areas where other nectar sources are scarce.

Want personalized planting timelines?

Get started free