Impatiens are moving into the sunny side of life.

Long a staple in the shade, the popular, brightly colored annual now comes in a sun-tolerant hybrid that is wowing gardeners nationwide and has been named a 2011 Mississippi Medallion Plant, thanks to Sakata Seed Company in Japan.

SunPatiens, a cross between New Guinea and wild impatiens, have thicker walls than the traditional shade varieties, allowing them to thrive in sun or part shade. They will flower from spring until frost if they receive consistent water and fertilizer.

Fifteen selections of SunPatiens are available in three growing patterns.

The 3-to-4-foot-tall and wide, vigorous types can be used to quickly fill in large landscape beds, said Gary Bachman, Mississippi State horticulturist and host of “Southern Gardening.” They come in variegated coral, lavender, magenta, orange, red and white.

These are too large for most containers but the smaller 2-to-3-foot tightly branched compact SunPatiens will work well in a variety of containers and smaller spaces in a garden. They come in blush pink, deep rose, coral, white, lilac, orange and magenta.

The two spreading selections are ideal for hanging baskets or as a spiller plant in large containers but come only in white and variegated salmon.

When SunPatiens were initially planted in the 2009 trial gardens at Crystal Springs Experiment Station, Norman Winter said he was skeptical of how well they would perform in Mississippi heat and humidity. Excelling his expectations, they mesmerized all who saw them at the Fall Flower and Garden Fest. Some were grown in display boxes with cannas for a tropical look, others with Mexican Bush Salvia and Goldilocks lysimachia. They are so versatile and easy to grow that the combinations are limitless, he stated.

As with other impatiens, consistent moisture is necessary; but drainage is important as well. They can rot if their roots are constantly wet. Loose soil, amended with compost, is recommended if they are to be planted in the ground or a good quality potting mix is best for container-grown plants. Bachman recommends adding a slow-release fertilizer at planting time and a water-soluable fertilizer application (20-10-20 or 20-20-20) at two-week intervals during the growing season for best results.

Other 2011 Medallion Picks include Aristotle bell pepper and Native Plant Virginia sweetspire. Aristotle is a prolific performer with smoothly shaped, thick walled, 4-by-4-inch fruits. It is resistant to bacterial leaf spot, potato virus and tobacco mosaic virus.

Virginia sweetspire is an easy, low-maintenance shrub for full sun to partial shade. The species can grow to 6 feet tall in the wild but cultivars such as the 2-foot-tall Little Henry were developed to better suit the home landscape. Sweet scented white blooms appear in June, and the foliage turns a striking maroon-red in fall before shedding from the bush.

The Mississippi Medallion Program is sponsored by the Mississippi Nursery and Landscape Association, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Mississippi Plant Selections Committee.