Specialty Gardening: Favorite Plants in the Cottage Garden, 0 by critterologist

critterologist wrote:
Oh, I should mention another "old fashioned" plant that I love and think is very "cottagey," right up there with hollyhocks!

Garden Balsam, or Balsam Impatiens (Impatiens balsamina) grows very well in my north foundation bed, so it's one to consider for shady spots. It does appreciate regular watering but will bounce back if it starts to wilt.

It self-sows, so it will come back year after year, but I haven't had it come up more than a couple feet away from where it was planted. Also, the seedlings are very easy to pull up from any place they're unwelcome, so I wouldn't consider it invasive. The seed pods "explode" with a touch, which is really fun.

In this photo, the balsam has been nearly overtaken in the front by some trailing (small-leafed) coleus...