Plant guide
New Guinea impatiens
Impatiens hawkeri
New Guinea impatiens is considered non-toxic to cats. It adds seasonal flowers to a patio pot or hanging basket. This guide covers the named species, not every retail hybrid.
Non-toxic does not mean edible. Eating plant material can still upset your cat’s stomach.
What this guide covers: Impatiens hawkeri only. Confirm the botanical label; a photograph cannot identify a visitor’s specimen.
Photo:
Photo details
NC State Extension — Impatiens hawkeri
By Cathy DeWitt
License: CC BY 4.0
Original photograph unchanged; proportionally resized for review and display.
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Photo:
Photo details
NC State Extension — Impatiens hawkeri
By Cathy DeWitt
License: CC BY 4.0
Original photograph unchanged; proportionally resized for review and display.
New Guinea impatiens seeds
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Non-toxic does not mean edible. Chewing plants can still upset your cat’s stomach.
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Look for Impatiens hawkeri and check the selected variety. Listings and availability can change.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Impatiens hawkeri
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Not recorded
- Also known as
- No reviewed aliases available
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How to grow this plant
Impatiens hawkeri only; the light and water categories summarize the cited growing guidance.
- Light
- Some direct sun
Partial shade gives the best performance.
- Watering
- Keep evenly moist
Keep the soil moist; plants receiving more sun need closer watering attention.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
The source’s 70–75°F figure is for seed germination, not mature-plant growing temperatures.
- Potting
- Use well-drained soil enriched with organic matter.
- Through the year
- Flowers can continue from spring through fall.
Growing-guide sources
- Impatiens hawkeri - Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-17
Exact named species; garden conditions are not relabeled as indoor requirements.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-10-17. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Reviewed safety information
- Toxic principle
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Reported signs
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
Missing information is unknown. It should not be interpreted as an absence of risk.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.
Sources & review
- New Guinea impatiens: plant safety reference ↗Veterinary Poisons Information Service · Accessed
VPIS explicitly names Impatiens hawkeri. No inference is made from the existing I. walleriana guide, and retail interspecific hybrids are not automatically included.
- New Guinea impatiens: supporting reference ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-10-17
Safety last reviewed .