| Busy Lizzie | ||||||||||||||
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| Impatiens walleriana Hook.f. |
The Busy Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana Hook.f., syn. Impatiens sultani Hook.f.) also known as a Balsam or simply "Impatiens", is native to eastern Africa from Tanzania to Mozambique. It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 15-60 cm tall, with broad lanceolate leaves 3-12 cm long and 2-5 cm broad. The flowers are profusely borne, 2-5 cm diameter, with five petals.
Cultivation
It is commonly cultivated as a garden flower, where, although perennial in frost-free growing conditions, it is often treated as an annual, discarded at the end of the year. The numerous garden cultivars, selected for varying flower colours, include:
- 'Accent Stars'
- 'Confection'
- 'Blackberry Ice'
- 'Eclipse'
- 'Elfin White'
- 'Extra Dwarf'
- 'Lipstick'
- 'Red Star'
- 'Super Elfin'
- 'Tempo Series'
- 'Wink and Blink'
'Super Elfin' is the dominantly available commercial cultivar group. This group of impatiens was bred by Claude Hope in Costa Rica. Mr Hope developed this species from its native wild form into one of the most popular bedding plants in the world.[1]
Propagation
Busy Lizzies may be propagated by cutting off a stem and planting it in moistened soil. Keep the cutting watered it and in time it will take root and grow into a new plant. The leaves may wilt during the rooting process.[2]
References
- ^ Pink, A. (2004). Gardening for the Million. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. ]
- ^ Hofman, Hazel Antaramian (1999-06). "A Garden Borrowed - vegetative propagation of garden plants - includes glossary and list of plants". Flower & Garden Magazine (June, 1999): 3 (online version). Retrieved on 2006-12-27.
