noun / proper noun
impatiens
im-PAY-shunz/ɪmˈpeɪʃənz/
A genus of balsam-family plants valued for colorful flowers.
Bright impatiens flowers bring color to the shady garden bed.
Etymology
Literally “not enduring,” the name describes the plant as impatient: its seed pods discharge their seeds forcibly at a slight touch.
In context
If you want bright, colorful blooms in your shade garden, impatiens are America's number one flower.
More examples
- The genus Impatiens belongs to the balsam family.
- She plants impatiens in pots beside the porch.
- Some impatiens scatter their seeds when ripe pods burst.
Forms
impatiens
Similar words
- balsam
- Often names particular impatiens species rather than the entire genus.
- touch-me-not
- Commonly names wild impatiens, emphasizing pods that burst when touched.