Impatiens walleriana

Impatiens walleriana, the busy Lizzie, is the most reliable flower for shade — neat mounds smothered in red, pink, orange, violet and white blooms from summer to frost.
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Impatiens walleriana — busy Lizzie

Impatiens walleriana is the botanical name for the busy Lizzie, the most reliable flowering plant for shade there is. It is the species behind our impatiens range within the flower seed collection.

History & origin

Busy Lizzie hails from the shaded forest floors of East Africa, and that origin explains everything about it — a plant evolved to flower generously in dappled shade and moist, humus-rich ground, exactly where so many other flowers fail.

The names are telling: Impatiens means “impatient,” for the ripe seed capsules that burst at a touch and fling their seed far and wide; walleriana honours the 19th-century missionary and naturalist Horace Waller.

Botanical characteristics

A tender perennial grown as an annual, busy Lizzie forms neat, well-branched mounds smothered in flat, five-petalled flowers in vivid red, pink, orange, violet and white, blooming non-stop from early summer to the frosts. Its compact, shade-loving habit makes it a star for containers and a dependable splash of colour among shade-tolerant ornamental flowers.

Growing Impatiens walleriana from seed

Sow under cover in early spring, pressing the fine seed onto the surface as it needs light and warmth to germinate, and keep it consistently warm and moist. Plant out only after the last frost, into part shade and rich, moisture-retentive soil. Our flower growing guide and flower sowing calendar cover the timing.

Ready to grow busy Lizzie? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Impatiens · Container Flowers · Ornamental Flowers · Annual Flowers · All Flower Seeds

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

What is Impatiens walleriana?
It is the botanical name for the busy Lizzie, a tender perennial grown as an annual and prized for flowering freely in shade. Does busy Lizzie grow in shade?
Yes — it is one of the best of all flowers for part shade, where it blooms non-stop all summer. When should I sow Impatiens walleriana seeds?
Sow under cover in early spring, pressing seed onto the surface as it needs light. See our flower sowing calendar for timing. Why is it called impatiens?
The name means impatient, after the ripe seed pods that burst open at the slightest touch.