Balsam

Impatiens balsamina

Also known as: Garden Balsam, Rose Balsam

Balsam is a flower in the Balsaminaceae family. It grows best in full sun to part shade with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 2-13. Plants reach maturity about 63–77 days after planting and sit about 12 inches apart.

Varieties

1 from True Leaf Market · sorted by days to maturity

▸Mixed Colors63–77 days
Non-GMO; Container; Annual
63-77 Days to maturity. Impatiens balsamina. Mixed Colors Balsam Seeds. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, annual. Premium Quality Seeds. Growing balsam flowers from seeds this season is an effortless and vibrant way to splash some summertime brilliance into your home or garden. Balsam boast elegant 24 inches tall plants of dense "gardenia-like" blooms, ideal for indoor planters or as an eye-catching highlight around any shady flower bed. Mixed Colors balsam flower seeds are a wonderful substitute for accenting seasonal baskets and patios. About 2,800 seeds per ounce.
View on True Leaf Market ↗

Family

Balsaminaceae

Plant spacing

1 plant per square foot

In a square-foot bed, space balsam about 12 in apart — that fits 1 plant in each 1-foot square (1×1). Wider rows or containers space the same.

Water

Medium

Plan your balsam planting

Add balsam to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.

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At a glance

Days to harvest

63–77 days

From transplant or sow to first harvest

Harvest style

Harvest once

One main harvest

After harvest

Use within days

Quality eases off after peak

Frost tolerance

Tender · to ~32°F

Lowest temperature the foliage usually survives

Germination

~65%

Typical minimum germination rate

Growing timeline

Start balsam indoors ~8 weeks before transplanting 1 week after last frost; first harvest 10 weeks after last frost.

Seed to transplant

42-56 days

Outdoor planting

7 to 14 days vs frost

Propagation

Seed

Schedule anchor

Last Frost

Care & troubleshooting— extension-sourced, with citations

Something looks wrong?

Describe what you see on your balsamand we'll rank the likely causes — most likely first, least-invasive fix first.

Spider mites

Pestmoderate

Symptoms: fine pale stippling/speckling on leaves; fine webbing on undersides in hot dry spells; leaves bronzing and dropping

CulturalHose down and raise humidity· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Mites thrive in hot, dry, dusty conditions. Spray foliage (especially undersides) with water to dislodge them and reduce dust.
Source: UC IPM
Schedule this in your garden →
OrganicInsecticidal soap or horticultural oil - label use only· every 5 days · ~2 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Apply to undersides per label; mites resist many products, so soaps/oils are preferred. Not in extreme heat.
Always follow the product label — it is the law.
Source: UC IPM
Schedule this in your garden →

Aphids

Pestlow

Symptoms: clusters of tiny soft-bodied insects on new growth and undersides; sticky honeydew or sooty mold; curled distorted new leaves; ants tending them

CulturalBlast off with water· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Knock colonies off with a strong jet of water in the morning; repeat every few days. Light infestations rarely need more.
Source: UC IPM: Aphids
Schedule this in your garden →
OrganicInsecticidal soap - label use only· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
For persistent colonies apply insecticidal soap to undersides per label. Avoid open flowers.
Always follow the product label — it is the law.
Source: UC IPM
Schedule this in your garden →