Impatiens, Busy Lizzie, Patience

Impatiens, busy lizzie or patience, is an annual flower with nonstop blossoms in many colors. It has a tidy, mounding form and self-cleaning flowers that make it an ideal low-maintenance plant.

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Impatiens, busy Lizzie or Patience, is an annual flower with nonstop blossoms making it an ideal low-maintenance plant.
Impatiens, also known as busy lizzie or patience,
grow well in partial shade or full shade.
See more pictures of annuals.


­Description: Breeders have developed compact, branching plants whose flowers are borne above the foliage. Flowers are white, pink, rose, orange, scarlet, burgundy, and violet, with many bicolored variants. Foliage is deep, glossy green or bronze in color. Most specimens grow 12 to 15 inches high.

Propagation: Sow seeds 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost date. Germination takes 10 to 20 days at 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a sterile soil mix, because young impatiens seedlings are subject to damping off. A fungicide is recommended. Cuttings root in 10 to 14 days.

How to grow: Impatiens will grow in any average soil and prefers dappled shade. It requires lots of moisture and fertilizer to bloom well. In deep shade, bloom diminishes.

Uses: Impatiens can be used in beds, borders, planting strips, and containers. The plants are beautiful in hanging baskets and planters.

Related species: New Guinea impatiens grows in full sun and has larger and showier flowers. Leaves can be green or variegated.

Scientific name: Impatiens wallerana

Impatiens is also a great plant for the house. Read how to bring about as many flowers as possible in your living room impatiens on the next page.

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Impatience plants are bushy with thick, watery stems and pointed, green leaves. The broad, flat flowers have a long spur and come in shades of white, pink, red, and orange, not to mention bicolors. They bloom almost constantly.

Picture of many pink flowers, impatiens plant.
Almost always brimming with flowers, impatiens plant is a great addition to the indoors.

Pinch and prune regularly or the plant will need staking. Start new plants when old ones become unattractive. Impatience plants are often grown outside in shady spots during the summer. Watch out for spider mites.

Impatiens Plant Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Impatiens wallerana
Common Names: Impatience Plant, Patience Plant, Busy Lizzy, Patient Lucy
Light Requirement for Impatiens Plant: Bright Light to Filtered Light
Water Requirement for Impatiens Plant: Evenly Moist
Humidity for Impatiens Plant: High
Temperature for Impatiens Plant: House
Fertilizer for Impatiens Plant: Balanced
Potting Mix for Impatiens Plant: All-Purpose
Propagation for Impatiens Plant: Division
Decorative Use for Impatiens Plant: Hanging Basket, Table
Care Rating for Impatiens Plant: Easy

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