Good Replacement for Impatiens

         The plant substitute most resembling common Impatiens is annual Vinca, Catharanthus roseus.

         It's from Madagascar and is very tender--completely wiped out by the first hard frost. Its advantage to Impatiens is that it can take very hot sun as well as  partial shade. The disadvantage is that it won't handle deeper shade the way Impatiens does. Catharanthus has almost the same colors as Impatiens (see photo), does not need much watering, and has the same height. And it is not susceptible to the blight that is wiping out Impatiens. Pictured is a bed of Catharanthus in Skokie at the Old Orchard medical complex.