← Plant Guides

How to Grow Sunpatiens Divine Red

Wikimedia Commons

Sunpatiens Divine Red

Impatiens × hawkeri 'Divine Red'

flower

Sunpatiens Divine Red is a vibrant, sun-loving impatiens cultivar featuring deep crimson-red flowers with glossy green foliage. This hybrid is bred specifically to tolerate full sun while maintaining the prolific blooming habit characteristic of impatiens. It's ideal for bedding, containers, and hanging baskets in warm climates.

When should you plant Sunpatiens Divine Red 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 Sunpatiens Divine Red timeline →

Example Sunpatiens Divine Red timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Sunpatiens Divine Red

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. First Sunpatiens Divine Red blooms

    Around May 22

    ≈ 35 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Sunpatiens Divine Red dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun to part shade, 6-8+ hours of direct sunlight daily (unlike traditional impatiens, this variety thrives in full sun)
💧
Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water daily during hot weather, checking soil moisture at the base. In containers, may need watering twice daily in peak summer. Reduce watering in cooler months.
📏
Spacing: 12 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 35-50 days to visible flowers from transplant
🌱
Planting depth: Surface sow seeds or plant transplants at soil level; seeds need light to germinate

Soil

Type: Well-draining, fertile potting soil or amended garden soil with organic matter
pH: 6.0-6.5
Amendments:
Compost or aged bark mulch Perlite or coconut coir for drainage Slow-release fertilizer

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 10-11; grown as an annual in cooler zones 9 and below

10a 10b 11a 11b

Sign up free to see if Sunpatiens Divine Red grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.

Get my Sunpatiens Divine Red timeline →

Growth Stages

1

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny seedlings with 2-4 true leaves emerge; slow initial growth phase

Keep soil moist under bright, indirect light. Maintain 70-75°F. Provide gentle air circulation to prevent damping off.

2

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Plant develops bushy form with increasing leaf production; no flowers yet

Begin hardening off transplants before planting outdoors. Gradually introduce to sun exposure. Pinch growing tips to encourage bushiness.

3

Budding & Early Flowering

1-2 weeks

First flower buds appear at branch tips; initial blooms emerge

Ensure consistent watering. Begin fertilizing with balanced or slightly higher phosphorus formula every 2 weeks. Maintain full sun exposure.

4

Peak Blooming

6-12 weeks (or until frost/heat stress)

Abundant, deep red flowers cover the plant; continuous bloom cycle

Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms. Water and fertilize regularly every 2 weeks. Monitor for pests and disease.

5

Decline/End of Season

Varies by climate

Flowering slows as temperatures drop below 50°F or exceed 95°F consistently; plant may become leggy

Cut back plant by 1/3 to rejuvenate or treat as annual. Move containers to protected location in cooler climates.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Begonias Petunias Marigolds Salvia Calibrachoa Dusty Miller Coleus Vinca (Periwinkle)

Avoid planting near:

Other sun-sensitive impatiens varieties (traditional impatiens prefer shade) Plants requiring dry conditions (sedums, xerophytic species)

Common Pests

  • Increase humidity; spray with water or insecticidal soap; neem oil as needed

  • Yellow sticky traps; insecticidal soap; neem oil; maintain good air circulation

  • Inspect plants regularly; remove with alcohol-soaked cotton swab; neem oil spray

  • Allow soil surface to dry between waterings; use sticky traps; treat soil with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti)

  • and

    Improve air circulation; avoid wetting foliage; remove infected leaves; fungicide if severe

Uses

🍳

Not for consumption

Culinary

Impatiens are not edible and should not be ingested. Ornamental use only. [source]

🏠

Container and landscape color

Household

Ideal for creating vibrant displays in pots, hanging baskets, flower beds, and borders. The continuous blooming and sun tolerance make it superior to traditional impatiens for sunny locations. [source]

🎨

Fresh cut flowers

Craft

Delicate red flowers can be used in small floral arrangements and vases, though they are tender and best used fresh from the plant. [source]

🦋

Pollinator attraction

Wildlife

Attracts hummingbirds and bees with its nectar-rich flowers, making it valuable for pollinator gardens and creating movement and life in outdoor spaces. [source]

🏠

Shade-tolerant alternative

Household

While thriving in full sun, Sunpatiens also performs well in part shade, offering flexibility for difficult garden locations where traditional flowers struggle. [source]

Harvest Tips

Not typically harvested for produce. Deadhead spent flowers regularly (pinching off flowers at the base) to promote continuous blooming and maintain plant shape. Pinch back the main stem by 1/3 when plant reaches 6-8 inches tall to encourage branching and fuller form.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Sunpatiens were specifically bred by breeders to overcome the traditional impatiens' shade-only limitation, making them a game-changer for sunny garden locations
  • 🌱 The name 'Divine Red' reflects the intensity and purity of the crimson color, which deepens in full sun exposure and becomes even more vivid
  • 🌱 Unlike traditional impatiens, Sunpatiens are hybrids (Impatiens hawkeri × Impatiens sulcata) that combine sun tolerance with heat tolerance, making them more resilient than their parent species

Gardening Terms

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

Annual Cultivar Damping Off Deadhead Full Sun Hardening Off Hybrid pH Pinch Back Transplant True Leaves
Shop Sunpatiens Divine Red plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Sunpatiens Divine Red planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Sunpatiens Divine Red 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 Sunpatiens Divine Red timeline →