Hostas are arguably the quintessential partner for impatiens in a shade garden. Their broad, architectural leaves provide a stunning textural contrast to the softer, finer foliage and delicate blooms of impatiens. Available in a vast array of sizes, shapes, and colors—from giant blue-green varieties to small, gold-edged types—hostas create a beautiful, layered backdrop that makes the vibrant impatiens flowers pop. Similarly, ferns like the Japanese Painted Fern or the soft, feathery fronds of Lady Fern add a fine, airy texture. Their deep green or silvery-gray foliage complements impatiens without competing for visual attention, establishing a cool, serene foundation for the brighter flowers.
To extend the season of color and introduce complementary flower forms, consider pairing impatiens with other shade-tolerant bloomers. Begonias, particularly the wax or tuberous varieties, share similar moisture and light requirements. Their glossy leaves and rose-like flowers in shades of pink, red, white, and yellow harmonize beautifully with impatiens, creating a rich tapestry of continuous bloom. Lobelia, with its delicate, cascading spikes of true blue or violet flowers, provides a stunning cool-toned contrast to the warm pinks, oranges, and reds of most impatiens. This combination is exceptionally effective in containers and hanging baskets where the lobelia can spill over the edges.
While impatiens excel at providing a low, mounding carpet of color, incorporating plants with vertical interest prevents the garden from looking flat. Astilbe is a perfect choice, sending up elegant, feathery plumes in shades of pink, red, white, and lavender above fern-like foliage. These blooms add a soft, spire-like form that rises above the impatiens without casting dense shade. For a bolder structural element, Caladiums offer enormous, heart-shaped leaves splashed with dramatic combinations of red, pink, white, and green. Their vibrant foliage acts as a large, colorful focal point among the more modest impatiens leaves, drawing the eye through the garden.
To create a fully planted, cohesive look, incorporate low-growing ground covers that weave between your impatiens. Sweet Woodruff is an excellent option, forming a mat of bright green, starry leaves and tiny white spring flowers. It thrives in deep shade and moist soil, filling empty spaces with a charming, cottage-garden feel. Ajuga, or Bugleweed, offers a different texture with its rosettes of foliage, which can be bronze, green, or variegated, and sends up short spikes of blue flowers. It spreads steadily to create a dense, weed-suppressing carpet that allows the impatiens to remain the star while covering the soil beautifully.
