The Story
Plant Bio
Impatiens walleriana, busy Lizzie, is a mounding tender perennial from East Africa grown everywhere as a shade annual. Smooth succulent green stems carry simple leaves and flat five-petalled flowers one to three inches across in white, pink, red, orange and violet, produced continuously from planting until the first frost, on plants six inches to two feet high.
Impatiens downy mildew changed this plant entirely: from 2011 it stripped bedding impatiens across the country, collapsing plants within days and leaving spores that persist in the soil for years. If it has appeared in your beds, do not replant this species there — use New Guinea impatiens or SunPatiens, which are resistant, or a mildew-resistant series such as Beacon.
Uses & Benefits:
Essentials
At a Glance
Plant Type
Annual
Height
15 inches
Width
18 inches
Light
Partial Sun, Shade
Zones
10
Water
Moderate to high
Humidity
Moderate to high
Lifespan
Annual
Native To
East Africa
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Planting
How to Grow
- Plant in dappled or deep shade after the last frost.
- Avoid beds where impatiens have collapsed before.
- Give it moist, humus-rich, freely draining soil.
- Water at the base; wet foliage encourages mildew.
- Space plants for air movement between them.
- Remove and bin any plant that collapses suddenly.
Pro Tip
Check the leaf undersides for a white downy film — that is downy mildew, and the bed should not be replanted with this species.
Keep It Thriving
Care Guide
Do
- Plant in shade with good air movement 🌳
- Water at soil level, not overhead 💧
- Choose resistant series where mildew has struck 🏷️
- Bin collapsed plants rather than composting 🗑️
Don't
- Replant a bed where impatiens collapsed ❌
- Water over the foliage in the evening ❌
- Plant them out before the last frost ❌
Seasonal Care Calendar
| Task | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inspect | ||||||||||||
| Plant Out |
Watch Out For
Pests & Diseases
Common Pests
Common Diseases
In the Garden
Landscape Uses & Companions
Landscape Uses
Multiply
Propagation Methods
Good to Know
Common Questions
Impatiens questions
What zones can Impatiens grow in?
Impatiens is hardy in USDA Zone 10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.
Is Impatiens deer resistant?
Not reliably. Deer may browse Impatiens, especially tender spring growth — plan on repellents or fencing where pressure is high.
When does Impatiens bloom?
Impatiens typically blooms in summer to frost through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.
Does Impatiens need full sun?
Impatiens does best in part shade.
More Impatiens to compare
Rockapulco Wisteria Impatiens
Impatiens walleriana 'Rockapulco Wisteria'
Dyemaker's Balsam
Impatiens tinctoria
Blue Diamond Impatiens
Impatiens arguta
Rockapulco Purple Impatiens
Impatiens walleriana 'Rockapulco Purple'
Impatiens Blue Dream
Impatiens arguta 'Blue Dream'
New Guinea Impatiens 'Compact Tropical Rose'
Impatiens x hybrida 'Compact Tropical Rose'
Keep exploring
Explore the genus
Hardy in your zone?
Grow Impatiens with confidence
See it in a design of your actual yard, get zone-matched care reminders, and track it season by season in your garden journal.