How to Grow Super Elfin Red
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Super Elfin Red
Impatiens walleriana 'Super Elfin Red'
flowerSuper Elfin Red is a compact, dwarf impatiens cultivar prized for its vibrant scarlet-red flowers and dense, mounding growth habit. This tender annual reaches only 10-12 inches tall, making it ideal for containers, borders, and shaded garden spaces. The prolific blooms appear continuously from spring through fall in shaded to partially shaded conditions.
When should you plant Super Elfin Red in your zone?
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Example Super Elfin Red timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Super Elfin Red
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Super Elfin Red blooms
Around Jun 1≈ 45 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Super Elfin Red dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 2-11 as an annual; perennial in zones 10-11
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Get my Super Elfin Red timeline →Growth Stages
Seed Germination
10-14 daysTiny seeds sprout under bright, indirect light (70-75°F optimal). First true leaves emerge within 10-14 days.
Keep soil moist but not soggy. Do not cover seeds. Maintain 70-75°F temperature. Provide bright, indirect light. Thin seedlings once they develop true leaves.
Seedling & Early Growth
3-4 weeksSeedlings develop 2-3 sets of true leaves and begin branching. Plant becomes bushy and compact.
Maintain consistent moisture. Provide bright, indirect light. Pinch growing tips when seedlings reach 2-3 inches to encourage branching. Begin dilute weekly fertilizing once true leaves appear.
Vegetative Growth
2-3 weeks before flowering beginsPlant fills out into a dense, mounding form 10-12 inches tall with abundant foliage. No flowers yet.
Maintain evenly moist soil. Continue bright, indirect light. Fertilize weekly with diluted balanced liquid fertilizer or use slow-release granules. Pinch tips as needed to maintain compact form. Harden off before transplanting outdoors.
Flowering & Bloom
8-12+ weeks (spring through fall)Abundant scarlet-red flowers (1-1.5 inches) cover the plant continuously. Flowers bloom in leaf axils along stems.
Maintain consistently moist soil—critical during blooming. Fertilize every 1-2 weeks with diluted all-purpose or bloom-promoting fertilizer. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming (though impatiens self-clean well). Provide afternoon shade in hot climates.
Decline & Season's End
Variable; typically late September through frostAs temperatures drop in fall or with frost approach, flowering slows and leaves may yellow or drop.
Reduce watering. In zones 2-9, treat as an annual and pull up at season's end. In zones 10-11, cut back and bring indoors or overwintered in mild microclimates. Save seeds if desired (self-seeds readily).
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Increase humidity by misting foliage. Spray with water or insecticidal soap. Use neem oil if severe. Isolate heavily infested plants.
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Inspect leaf undersides regularly. Use yellow sticky traps. Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7-10 days. Encourage air circulation.
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Spray with strong water stream or insecticidal soap. Use neem oil for heavy infestations. Encourage natural predators like ladybugs.
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Allow soil surface to dry slightly between waterings. Use yellow sticky traps. Apply BTi (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) to soil if severe.
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No cure; destroy infected plants. Control thrips and whiteflies (vectors). Use disease-resistant varieties if available. Isolate infected plants immediately.
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Improve air circulation. Reduce leaf wetness and humidity. Spray with sulfur or potassium bicarbonate fungicide. Remove affected foliage.
Uses
Edible Flowers
CulinaryImpatiens flowers are edible and mildly sweet, traditionally used to garnish salads and desserts in some cuisines. The petals add a pop of color to salads and baked goods. [source]
Traditional Herbal Use
MedicinalIn traditional medicine, particularly in Southeast Asia and India, impatiens species have been used to treat skin irritations, burns, and wounds. The plant contains compounds with potential anti-inflammatory properties. [source]
Natural Dye Source
HouseholdImpatiens flowers can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics and craft projects, yielding red, pink, or purple tones depending on the flower color and mordants used. [source]
Floral Arrangements & Container Gardening
CraftSuper Elfin Red's compact, mounding form and prolific scarlet blooms make it exceptional for mixed container gardens, hanging baskets, window boxes, and as a cut flower for small arrangements. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeThe abundant flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators, making Super Elfin Red valuable for pollinator-friendly shade gardens and wildlife corridors. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Impatiens are grown for continuous ornamental blooms, not harvest in the traditional sense. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to promote new blooms, though Super Elfin Red self-cleans well. For cut flowers, cut stems early morning when turgid. Re-cut stems underwater and change water every 2-3 days; blooms last 5-7 days in a vase. To collect seeds for next year, allow a few flowers to fade on the plant; mature seed pods will swell and burst when ripe, scattering seeds.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 The name 'impatiens' comes from the Latin word for 'impatient,' referring to the ripe seed pods that explosively burst when touched, scattering seeds up to 6 feet away—a strategy called 'ballochory.'
- 🌱 Super Elfin Red is a product of intensive breeding in the 1980s-1990s to create ultra-compact, free-flowering impatiens ideal for commercial bedding production, featuring the dwarf 'Elfin' series genetics.
- 🌱 Impatiens are among the most shade-tolerant flowering annuals and can bloom in areas receiving only 1-2 hours of filtered sunlight daily, making them invaluable for dark corners and under tree canopies where most flowers fail.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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