Family: Balsaminaceae
Author: Hook.f.
Bibliography: Flora of Tropical Africa 1: 302 1868
Year: 1868
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Impatiens
Vegetable: False
Observations: SE. Kenya to S. Trop. Africa
Description
Busy lizzy, scientifically known as Impatiens walleriana, is a prominent member of the Balsaminaceae family. This vibrant plant has garnered significant attention within the horticultural community due to its striking and colorful blossoms, making it a popular choice for gardeners and landscape designers alike.
The origins of Busy lizzy can be traced to the tropical regions of southeastern Kenya extending to southern tropical Africa. This geographical spread has endowed the plant with robust adaptability to warm and humid climates. Impatiens walleriana was first described in 1868 in the seminal botanical work, “Flora of Tropical Africa,” authored by Joseph Dalton Hooker, an influential figure in botany.
Characteristic features of Busy lizzy include its lush foliage and an impressive range of flower colors, from pure white to deep red and violet. The leaves are typically green and slightly serrated, providing a lush backdrop that highlights the plant’s vivid blooms. One of the most remarkable aspects of Busy lizzy is its long flowering season, which makes it an enduring favorite in gardens, hanging baskets, and container displays.
In terms of cultivation, Busy lizzy prefers partial to full shade and thrives in moist, well-drained soils rich in organic matter. Though it is relatively low maintenance, it requires regular watering to prevent wilting, particularly during dry spells. The plant is also known for its resilience against common garden pests and diseases, though it can occasionally fall victim to downy mildew if conditions are overly humid.
Busy lizzy can also be propagated with ease, typically through cuttings or seeds. This ease of propagation, coupled with its showy appearance and prolonged blooming period, has cemented its status as a beloved ornamental plant worldwide.
In summary, Impatiens walleriana, or Busy lizzy, remains a staple in horticulture thanks to its vibrant flowers, ease of care, and adaptability. Its historical and botanical significance, detailed by Hooker in “Flora of Tropical Africa,” continues to be acknowledged and celebrated by plant enthusiasts and professionals globally.
Common Names
Eng: busy lizzy, buzzy lizzy, busy-lizzy, patienceplant, patient-lucy, sultana, zanzibar balsam
Deu: fleißiges lieschen
Dan: flittiglise
Spa: periquito, balsamina, chino
Swe: flitiga lisa
Fra: impatiens
Por: maria-sem-vergonha
En: Busy lizzy, Buzzy lizzy, Busy-Lizzy, Patienceplant, Patient-Lucy, Sultana, Zanzibar balsam, Sultan’s Balsam, Sultan’s Flower
Da: Flittiglise
Nl: Sultansbalsemien
Fr: Impatiens, Impatiente des jardins, Impatiente double
De: Fleißiges Lieschen
It: Fior di vetro
Pt: Maria-sem-vergonha
Es: Periquito, Balsamina, Chino
Sv: Flitiga Lisa
Synonyms
- Impatiens bruantii (Pynaert)
- Impatiens sultani (Hook.f.)
- Impatiens episcopi (H.J.Veitch)
- Impatiens petersiana (Gilg ex Grignan)
- Impatiens holstii (Engl. & Warb.)
- Impatiens lujae (De Wild.)
Distribution
- Kenya (native)
- Malawi (native)
- Mozambique (native)
- Tanzania (native)
- Zimbabwe (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Bolivia (introduced)
- Brazil Northeast (introduced)
- Brazil South (introduced)
- Brazil Southeast (introduced)
- Brazil West-Central (introduced)
- Cameroon (introduced)
- Canary Is. (introduced)
- Caroline Is. (introduced)
- China North-Central (introduced)
- China Southeast (introduced)
- Colombia (introduced)
- Comoros (introduced)
- Cook Is. (introduced)
- Costa Rica (introduced)
- District of Columbia (introduced)
- Ecuador (introduced)
- El Salvador (introduced)
- Florida (introduced)
- Galápagos (introduced)
- Guatemala (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Juan Fernández Is. (introduced)
- Madeira (introduced)
- Malaya (introduced)
- Marianas (introduced)
- Mauritius (introduced)
- Mexico Central (introduced)
- Mexico Southwest (introduced)
- Morocco (introduced)
- Nansei-shoto (introduced)
- New Caledonia (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- Nicaragua (introduced)
- Northern Provinces (introduced)
- Ohio (introduced)
- Panamá (introduced)
- Queensland (introduced)
- Rwanda (introduced)
- Réunion (introduced)
- Seychelles (introduced)
- Sri Lanka (introduced)
- St.Helena (introduced)
- Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
- Venezuela (introduced)
- Vietnam (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Flower
Taken Jul 7, 2019 by agustin rini (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 23, 2019 by Ivaylo Ivanov (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 8, 2018 by Rvt 063 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 15, 2019 by Francis Francis Nugent (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 27, 2017 by daniele (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Nov 8, 2021 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 23, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 5, 2021 by Calazans Lahis (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 12, 2016 by Hermann Hochfellner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 28, 2021 by Jim Knopf (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Sep 18, 2020 by Isabelle polmart (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 27, 2017 by daniele (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 28, 2021 by Jim Knopf (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 28, 2017 by daniele (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 26, 2017 by Paul MOUGEL (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Oct 23, 2022 by ian connop (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 13, 2018 by Filippini Renzo (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 15, 2021 by Thales Moreira de Lima (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 1, 2021 by Dylan Amelie Belzat (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 8, 2022 by Martinez Alvaro (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Nov 11, 2022 by Caw Vus (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 30, 2017 by vini (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 6, 2021 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 26, 2020 by sm Sm (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 21, 2018 by vini (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Apr 18, 2021 by vivi mendez (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 11, 2019 by Leandro Martins Santos (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 28, 2020 by García Johny (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 6, 2020 by Sandra Chassery (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 21, 2019 by C S (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2891772)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:374419-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Impatiens walleriana Hook.f.)
Specifications
Growth habit>: Forb/herb