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Impatiens walleriana
| Family Name: | Balsaminaceae |
| Synonyms: | Impatiens giorgii, Impatiens holstii, Impatiens lujai |
| Common Name: | Busy Lizzie, Patience Plant, Sultana, Impatiens |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
|---|---|
| Maximum Height | 0.2 m to 0.6 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 0.2 m to 0.6 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tanzania, Mozambique |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Herbaceous perennial that forms a spreading mound and grows up to 0.6 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Light green to dark green leaves are ovate to elliptical with a typically toothed leaf margin (7.6 cm long). |
| Flowers | Large, plate-like flowers are composed of 5 obovate, overlapping petals. |
| Cultivation | The growing tips should be removed to promote branching and more compact growth. |
| Etymology | The genus 'Impatiens' is derived from a Latin word that refers to the explosive dehiscence of many Impatiens fruits. The specific epithet 'walleriana' recognizes Waller, a botanist who collected plants from the British Isles. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Small Gardens, Groundcover, Container Planting |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Easy to Grow |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting (Herbaceous) |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Green - Light Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) Remarks | Dark Green |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Red, Pink, Blue, Orange, Purple, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Solitary |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Saucer-shaped |
| Flower Size | 4.8 cm |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 827 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2122 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
