Impatiens

Impatiens walleriana, often called Busy Lizzie, is one of the most popular bedding plants in the United States. It is native to eastern Africa, from Kenya to Mozambique. It is usually grown as an annual bedding plant, and its flowers come in white, peach, apricot, pink, and red from late spring until the first frost of fall. Flowers are 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) across.

Sowing. Seeds can be started indoors in late winter. Start them about 6 to 10 weeks before you plan to set plants outside. Some advice gives 8 to 10 weeks before the outdoor planting date. Harden seedlings off before planting them out.

Plant seedlings outdoors after the last spring frost, because the plants will not tolerate cold. They grow best in moist, well-drained soil with organic material added.

Light. Impatiens do best in part shade to full shade. Spots that get filtered sun for 2 to 4 hours, or morning sun with afternoon shade, are usually ideal. Some sunnier spots work if the plants get enough water.

Spacing. Space compact varieties 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) apart. Taller varieties need about 18 inches (46 cm) between plants.

Watering. Keep the plants well watered, but not soggy, at all times. They have low drought tolerance and wilt in hot, dry spells. Overwatering can cause the plant to rot.

Feeding. Fertilize monthly with a water-soluble fertilizer.

Containers. Impatiens grow well in containers and hanging baskets. Use a soil-less mix with good drainage, and expect to water container plants more often than plants in the ground.

Pruning. In late summer, plants can look leggy. Trim off the top third of the plant to encourage new blooms.

Downy mildew is the main concern. All varieties of the common garden impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) are susceptible to it. Symptoms include yellowing leaves, curled leaves, white fuzzy growth under the leaves, and dropping flowers. Control with fungicides is not practical in home landscapes. Remove and destroy infected plants, and do not add them to a home compost pile. Newer resistant cultivars such as Beacon are available.

Deer can browse the plants.

Seed pods ripen in late summer and fall and burst open to release seeds. Plants can also be propagated from cuttings taken in fall. Self-sown seedlings may revert to tall plants with mixed colors rather than the colors you planted.

Pets: one page lists this plant as non-toxic for cats and dogs. The pages used here do not give a full toxicity rating for cats or dogs, so check with a vet or a trusted pet poison resource before letting pets chew the plants.