Scientific name: Impatiens walleriana
Family: BALSAMINACEAE
Common names: “Busy Lizzie” “Patience plant”
Plant Type: Non-hardy perennial grown as annual
Conditions:
Zone: 10-11
Light: Semi shade – deeper shade
Exposure: Shelter from wind
Soil: Any humus rich
Moisture: Moist well drained
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: 8-24″H & W
Leaf and Stem shape: Simple, elliptic toothed leaves on brittle stems
Flower: Solitary or clustered, spurred, 5-petalled flowers in shades of purple, mauve, pink, red, and orange, sometimes picotee or bicoloured
Maintenance: Low, can be dug up before frost and overwintered indoors or grown as an annual
Landscape use: Flower beds, hanging baskets, containers, houseplant
Propagate: By seed and cuttings
Pests & Disease: Mildew fungus is killing Impatiens in BC since 2013, ‘New Guinea’ hybrids are resistant!
*Deer resistant
Comments: Now almost all available impatiens are New Guinea hybrids, which produce a larger more sturdy plant but are more difficult to grow and prefer more sun, keep away from foot traffic
