Balsaminaceae
Impatiens walleriana
Busy Lizzie, Impatiens
Not currently in the nursery
We can propagate most native species on request — get in touch to discuss timeline and quantity.
About
Native to eastern Africa, this herbaceous perennial is often cultivated as an annual in tropical zones. This fast-growing plant forms dense, mounding clumps, typically reaching 15–60 cm tall with succulent stems and oval to elliptic green leaves, sometimes with a bronze tint. It produces profuse, five-petaled flowers, 2–5 cm in diameter, displaying colours from white, pink, and red to lilac, purple, and orange, often with a distinctive spur. The ripe seedpods explosively disperse their seeds.
Where it works in Kilifi
In a Kilifi-coast garden, this species thrives in partial to full shade, requiring moist, well-drained, organically rich soil. It is ideal for mass planting under trees, in shady borders, or in containers and hanging baskets, providing continuous colour. Space plants 8 to 12 inches apart to allow for spread or closer for taller growth.
Growing notes
Busy Lizzie is a fast-growing plant that needs consistently moist soil, especially during dry spells, due to its low drought tolerance. Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil is dry, but avoid overwatering to prevent rot. It is sensitive to heat and can wilt in hot, dry conditions; older varieties are also susceptible to downy mildew. Pinching back leggy plants can encourage bushier growth and more blooms.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: wikipedia.org, ncsu.edu, rhs.org.uk, medium.com, monaconatureencyclopedia.com, findmeacure.com. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.