Plant · GBIF taxon 2891772
Busy Lizzie
Impatiens wallerianaAlso known as Sultana, Zanzibar Balsam, Patient Lucy, Garden Impatiens
Succulent-stemmed perennials thrive in dense shade, producing brilliant red, pink, purple, or white blooms throughout the warmer months. Mature seed pods build internal hydraulic pressure until the slightest touch causes them to burst open violently, launching seeds several feet away. Although prized worldwide as an ornamental bedder, wild populations face habitat loss in their native East African riverine habitats while cultivated strains battle downy mildew outbreaks.
Shade-LovingExplosive PodsFlowering
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Moist soil
- Plant nutrients
Predators
- Slugs and snails
- Spider mites
- Aphids
ThreatsImpatiens downy mildew, native habitat degradation
HabitatsHumid moist forests, riverbanks, shady gardens
Life spanPerennial in tropics, annual in temperate zones
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderEricales
- FamilyBalsaminaceae
- GenusImpatiens
- SpeciesImpatiens walleriana
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Touch pods: Gently pinch ripe seed pods to watch them burst and launch seeds instantly.
- Provide shade: Keep in indirect light as harsh afternoon sun scorches leaves quickly.
- Maintain moisture: Keep soil consistently damp without letting stems sit in waterlogged dirt.
Close Relative (c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · cc-by
Close Relative (c) AnnLazaro, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by AnnLazaro · cc-by-sa
Close Relative
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