Busy lizzie (Impatiens walleriana)

Impatiens walleriana (Busy lizzie) is an herbaceous plant with succulent stems that can reach 15 to 75 cm in height.
Its flowers are 2 to 5 cm in diameter and can be white, orange, red and various shades of pink. They can also be bicolor.
Its fruits are capsules that, when ripe, open quickly, throwing the seeds away.

Plant profile

Common name: Busy lizzie
Scientific name: Impatiens walleriana
Plant type: Perennials
Habit: Bushy
Height: 10cm - 50cm
Spread: 10cm - 50cm
Foliage: Evergreen
Flower color: Orange, Pink, Red, White
Season of interest: Spring, Summer
Sunlight: Full shade, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained
Garden type: City & Courtyard Gardens, Informal Garden, Patio & Container Garden
Planting type: Containers & Pots, Flower borders and bedding

This plant is native to the tropical forests of East Africa, but can now be found growing spontaneously in humid subtropical and tropical regions around the world.
Very easy to grow, it is generally used to form dense groups in gardens or in large pots.

Origin

East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique).

Climate

It cannot withstand very low temperatures, growing well at temperatures above 20°C and with high relative humidity.

Sunlight

Partial shade or full shade.

Watering

The soil should always remain moist. This plant is very sensitive to lack of water.

Soil

Fertile, rich in organic matter, well drained but with capacity to retain moisture. They are very tolerant of soil pH, but a pH between 5.8 and 6.2 is ideal.

Flowering season

It can bloom all year in warm regions where it is evergreen. In colder regions, it can bloom from late spring to early autumn.

Cultivation cycle

Perennial plants, but often grown as annuals.

Propagation

Propagate Busy lizzie by seed, which should be sown superficially in the soil, as they need light to germinate.
They can be covered with a light layer of sieved soil. The seeds usually germinate in two or three weeks.

The easiest way to propagate Impatiens walleriana is by softwood cuttings. They will even set roots in a glass of water.