Patient Lucy Impatiens walleriana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- im-PAY-shuns wall-er-ee-AY-nuh
- Description
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These succulent perennieal herbs grow between 6"-2' tall, mounding with lower leaves touching the ground. Impateins walleriana is an extremely popular annual bedding plant with a wide variety of colors and does best in part shade to full shade. This plant tolerates full sun, but is a water guzzler and tends to look wilted when heat loads are high and water is less plentiful. Over watering, however, can cause rot. Flowers may be bicolored or double. This plant has low drought tolerance and is hardy in zones 10-11. This plant performs best when soil is moist, well-drained, and supplemented with organic material. It is often utilized in planters, hanging baskets, containers, around trees in shaded areas, and in bedding. Seeds are sown in March under glass and germinates at 70-75 degrees. It is planted out in May. Patient Lucy has numerous cultivars and is frequently damaged by deer.
Insects, Diseases and Other Problems: Downey Mildew, caused by the ‘fungus-like’ organism Plasmopara obducens. Fungicides used to control fungal diseases will not work on Downey Mildew. Pest Alert, More information
Plants with similar characteristics and less problems: Impatiens hawkeri is an alternative that is resistant to downy mildew
Quick ID Hints:
- Flowers have white, conspicuous, elongated spur.
- Has a lateral sepal pair that is elongate and narrow.
- Leaves have stalked glands on teeth rising above the leaf plane.
- This succulent mounding plant has leaves that touch the ground.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Border Garden- Pathway
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Accent Series
- Blackberry Ice
- Confection
- Eclipse
- Elfin White
- Extra Dwarf
- Fiesta Ole
- 'Impreza Cherry Splash'
- 'Impreza Violet'
- 'Jambalaya Deep Pink'
- Lipstick
- Red Star
- 'Silhoette Cherry'
- 'Super Elfin XP Rose Improved'
- 'Super Elfin XP Violet Starburst'
- Tempo Series
- Accent Series
- Accent Series, Blackberry Ice, Confection, Eclipse, Elfin White, Extra Dwarf, Fiesta Ole, 'Impreza Cherry Splash', 'Impreza Violet', 'Jambalaya Deep Pink', Lipstick, Red Star, 'Silhoette Cherry', 'Super Elfin XP Rose Improved', 'Super Elfin XP Violet Starburst', Tempo Series
- Tags:




















- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Accent Series
- Blackberry Ice
- Confection
- Eclipse
- Elfin White
- Extra Dwarf
- Fiesta Ole
- 'Impreza Cherry Splash'
- 'Impreza Violet'
- 'Jambalaya Deep Pink'
- Lipstick
- Red Star
- 'Silhoette Cherry'
- 'Super Elfin XP Rose Improved'
- 'Super Elfin XP Violet Starburst'
- Tempo Series
- Accent Series
- Accent Series, Blackberry Ice, Confection, Eclipse, Elfin White, Extra Dwarf, Fiesta Ole, 'Impreza Cherry Splash', 'Impreza Violet', 'Jambalaya Deep Pink', Lipstick, Red Star, 'Silhoette Cherry', 'Super Elfin XP Rose Improved', 'Super Elfin XP Violet Starburst', Tempo Series
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Impatiens
- Species:
- walleriana
- Family:
- Balsaminaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South East Kenya to South Tropical Africa
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Colorful
- Defines Paths
- Shade
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Spreading
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10b, 10a, 11b, 11a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- This plant produces explosive capsules that roll suddenly inward and have a ribbed, rubbery-succulent texture.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are solitary on elongated pedicels, are conspicuously spurred, are calyx with 5 lobes, 2 lateral green lobes, and are narrow. Petals have anthrocyanin pigments and prominent spurs. Flowers have a wide variety of color: orange, pink, red, white, and purple.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate to opposite, ovate to elliptic, crenate with minute stalked glands rising upward, acute to subacuminate, are green in color, and sometimes have a tinge of red.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are suberect to decumbent, branching, and bear leaves.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators