Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Divine Orange New Guinea Impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called New Guinea Impatiens, SunPatiens, Pacific Impatiens.

More about divine orange new guinea impatiens

About Divine Orange New Guinea Impatiens

Impatiens hawkeri · also called New Guinea Impatiens, SunPatiens · flowering

Divine Orange New Guinea Impatiens is a vigorous, sun-tolerant hybrid series bearing large vivid orange flowers throughout summer into autumn. Unlike the common Busy Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana), it tolerates more sun and is resistant to impatiens downy mildew, making it the preferred outdoor bedding Impatiens today. Mildly toxic to pets if ingested.

Cold limit: USDA 10-12 (grown as a half-hardy annual in zones 2-9) · RHS H1c (10 to 32°C)

Watch for — Wilting in heat: Plants wilt in high temperatures even when adequately watered. Provide afternoon shade in very hot climates and water at soil level in the morning.

What divine orange new guinea impatiens's hardiness rating actually means

Hardiness works differently for divine orange new guinea impatiens: it is grown as a seasonal crop, not overwintered. The question is not "what zone" but "how long is your frost-free growing window". Its RHS rating of H1c means: Warm-temperate — can summer outdoors but must come in well before the first frost. On the US scale that maps to USDA 10-12 (grown as a half-hardy annual in zones 2-9) — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

As an annual crop, its "minimum temperature" is the first hard frost — that is the end of the plant's life, not a survivable low. Many types are also damaged by light frost (around 0 °C).

Concretely, for divine orange new guinea impatiens as it gets too cold:

Light frost (around 0 to −2 °C) damages or kills tender summer crops outright; cold-hardy types take a few degrees of frost.
The plant does not "survive winter" — its life cycle simply ends, by design, when frost arrives or it finishes cropping.
A surprise late spring frost can also kill young transplants set out too early, before the season even starts.

Can divine orange new guinea impatiens go outside or overwinter — and where?

Time it to your frost dates: sow or plant out after the last spring frost, and aim to harvest before the first autumn frost.
In short-season zones, start it indoors or under cover to stretch the effective growing window.
Hardier crops in this group can be sown for an autumn or overwintered harvest in mild zones — check the specific crop.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when divine orange new guinea impatiens can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H1c figure above.

Frost protection for borderline divine orange new guinea impatiens

Divine Orange New Guinea Impatiens is right on a hardiness edge in many gardens, so if you are pushing it, these measures buy it the margin it needs:

Use fleece, cloches or a cold frame at each end of the season to dodge a borderline frost and add growing weeks.
Have row cover ready for an unexpected late spring or early autumn frost.
Know your local last- and first-frost dates and count back the crop’s days-to-maturity to schedule the sowing.

Divine Orange New Guinea Impatiens hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is divine orange new guinea impatiens cold hardy?

Hardiness works differently for divine orange new guinea impatiens: it is grown as a seasonal crop, not overwintered. The question is not "what zone" but "how long is your frost-free growing window". A seasonal crop, not a perennial. Divine Orange New Guinea Impatiens is grown 10-12 (grown as a half-hardy annual in zones 2-9); you sow after the last frost and harvest before the first one, then start again next year.

What is the minimum temperature divine orange new guinea impatiens can survive?

As an annual crop, its "minimum temperature" is the first hard frost — that is the end of the plant's life, not a survivable low. Many types are also damaged by light frost (around 0 °C).

What hardiness zone is divine orange new guinea impatiens?

Divine Orange New Guinea Impatiens is rated USDA 10-12 (grown as a half-hardy annual in zones 2-9) and RHS H1c — Warm-temperate — can summer outdoors but must come in well before the first frost.

Can divine orange new guinea impatiens survive winter outside?

Time it to your frost dates: sow or plant out after the last spring frost, and aim to harvest before the first autumn frost. In short-season zones, start it indoors or under cover to stretch the effective growing window. Hardier crops in this group can be sown for an autumn or overwintered harvest in mild zones — check the specific crop.

How do I protect divine orange new guinea impatiens from frost?

Use fleece, cloches or a cold frame at each end of the season to dodge a borderline frost and add growing weeks. Have row cover ready for an unexpected late spring or early autumn frost. Know your local last- and first-frost dates and count back the crop’s days-to-maturity to schedule the sowing.