Impatiens vs Lily of the Valley

Side-by-side plant comparison — which is right for your garden?

Impatiens

Impatiens walleriana

Balsaminaceae · flowers

Low Maintenance

Lily of the Valley

Convallaria majalis

Asparagaceae · flowers

Deer ResistantLow Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Impatiens (Zones 10-11)

Lily of the Valley (Zones 3-8)

No zone overlap — these plants cannot be grown in the same climate

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Impatiens	Lily of the Valley
Scientific Name	Impatiens walleriana	Convallaria majalis
Family	Balsaminaceae	Asparagaceae
Category	flowers	flowers
Sun	⛅ Part Shade to Full Shade	⛅ Part Shade to Full Shade
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Rich, Moist	Rich, Moist
Height	1' 6"	8"
Spread	1' 6"	1'
Bloom Season	Spring-Fall	Spring
Bloom Color	Mixed	White
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	East Africa	Europe, Asia
Maintenance	Low	Low

Special Traits

Impatiens

No — EdibleNo — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Lily of the Valley

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

Impatiens

✓Keep soil consistently moist.
✓No deadheading needed — self-cleaning.
✓Pinch for bushier growth.
✓Watch for downy mildew — choose resistant varieties.
✓Feed monthly.

Lily of the Valley

✓Plant pips (roots) in fall.
✓Spreads aggressively — contain with barriers or use in areas where spreading is desired.
✓All parts are poisonous.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Impatiens if you want a low-maintenance plant. It thrives in part shade to full shade with medium water in zones 10–11.

Choose Lily of the Valley if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in part shade to full shade with medium water in zones 3–8.

View ImpatiensProfile →View Lily of the ValleyProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Impatiens and Lily of the Valley grow in the same hardiness zone?

Impatiens grows in USDA zones 10-11, while Lily of the Valley grows in zones 3-8. These plants have no overlapping hardiness zones, so they cannot be grown together in the same climate.

Do Impatiens and Lily of the Valley have the same sun and water needs?

Impatiens needs part shade to full shade and medium water, while Lily of the Valley needs part shade to full shade and medium water. They share similar growing requirements and can be planted in the same bed.

Which grows taller, Impatiens or Lily of the Valley?

Impatiens grows taller at 1' 6" compared to Lily of the Valley at 8". Impatiens spreads 1' 6" while Lily of the Valley spreads 1'.

Are Impatiens and Lily of the Valley deer resistant?

Lily of the Valley is deer resistant, but Impatiens is not. If deer are a concern, Lily of the Valley is the better choice, or protect Impatiens with fencing.

Which is easier to maintain, Impatiens or Lily of the Valley?

Both Impatiens and Lily of the Valley have low maintenance requirements. They need a similar level of care including regular attention to watering, pruning, and soil health.

Explore More Data Tools

For adjacent public-data tools, methodology notes, and network updates, visit DataPeek Facts.

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Impatiens	Lily of the Valley
Scientific Name	Impatiens walleriana	Convallaria majalis
Family	Balsaminaceae	Asparagaceae
Category	flowers	flowers
Sun	⛅ Part Shade to Full Shade	⛅ Part Shade to Full Shade
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Rich, Moist	Rich, Moist
Height	1' 6"	8"
Spread	1' 6"	1'
Bloom Season	Spring-Fall	Spring
Bloom Color	Mixed	White
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	East Africa	Europe, Asia
Maintenance	Low	Low

Care Tips

Impatiens

✓Keep soil consistently moist.
✓No deadheading needed — self-cleaning.
✓Pinch for bushier growth.
✓Watch for downy mildew — choose resistant varieties.
✓Feed monthly.

Lily of the Valley

✓Plant pips (roots) in fall.
✓Spreads aggressively — contain with barriers or use in areas where spreading is desired.
✓All parts are poisonous.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Impatiens and Lily of the Valley grow in the same hardiness zone?

Impatiens grows in USDA zones 10-11, while Lily of the Valley grows in zones 3-8. These plants have no overlapping hardiness zones, so they cannot be grown together in the same climate.

Do Impatiens and Lily of the Valley have the same sun and water needs?

Which grows taller, Impatiens or Lily of the Valley?

Impatiens grows taller at 1' 6" compared to Lily of the Valley at 8". Impatiens spreads 1' 6" while Lily of the Valley spreads 1'.

Are Impatiens and Lily of the Valley deer resistant?

Lily of the Valley is deer resistant, but Impatiens is not. If deer are a concern, Lily of the Valley is the better choice, or protect Impatiens with fencing.

Which is easier to maintain, Impatiens or Lily of the Valley?

Both Impatiens and Lily of the Valley have low maintenance requirements. They need a similar level of care including regular attention to watering, pruning, and soil health.