Partial Sun
High
Do not let dry out. Plants require plenty of water, especially with high temperatures. Will not tolerate frost.
Seeds need light to germinate. Cover seeds lightly with plastic or glass to keep in humidity but allow some airflow to prevent overheating the seeds.3
Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 11.7 inches (30.0 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.06 inches (0.15 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 15°C / 59°F to ensure good germination.By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Busy lizzy about 30 days before your last frost date .
6-12" apart
Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Busy lizzy is a tender plant.By our calculations*, you should look at planting out Busy lizzy about 0 days after your last frost date.
To propagate: remove a stem and plant in moistened soil. Keep cutting watered until plant is established. Can also be rooted directly in water (Fun for kids to watch roots growing!) No need to cut below leaf node as roots will grow along all parts of stem in water or soil.
Plants produce green seed pods that stand out from the plant a few days before exploding & sending seed over large area. To avoid losing them a tiny bag needs to be put over the seed capsule at an early stage, care being taken not to damage the stalk.
If kept in a dry, cool & dark place seeds will still germinate a year or more after collection. If sown soon after collection germination only takes a few days.
These estimates for how long Busy lizzy takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.
Average 5 days | Min 3 days | Max 21 days (10)
Average 15 days | Min 60 days | Max 91 days (3)
Average 30 days | Min 10 days | Max 10 days (1)
Our when to plant Busy lizzy estimates are relative to your last frost date.
“The Impatiens sultana, a type of impatiens named in honor of the Sultan of Zanzibar, was later changed to Impatiens wallerana, after Horace Waller, a British missionary who traveled to Africa in 1861 as lay superintendent of the Universities’ Mission to Central Africa. Dr. John Kirk, a British physician and naturalist, introduced impatiens to the western world in 1896.” 1
Claude Hope is known as the “Father of Impatiens” for introducing them to North American gardens.2
Impatiens, Double impatients
Impatiens walleriana Hook. f.
Misspellings: impatentce, impacience,