# Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/impatiens · Updated: 2026-10-29
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/plants/impatiens)

Impatiens · بلسم  
flower · exotic · family Balsaminaceae · grows 0.15–0.6 m tall, 0.25–0.5 m wide · fast growth  
part shade · moderate water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 2 · salt 2 · drought 1 · shade 5 · ease of care 3  
Sow or plant: Oct–Mar  
Uses: bedding, container  
Garden styles: tropical, manicured

## Also known as

- **English:** Busy Lizzie, Busy Lizzy, Sultana, Patient Lucy, Garden impatiens, Common impatiens, Sultan's flower
- **Botanical synonyms:** *Impatiens sultani*, *Impatiens holstii*
- **Arabic (العربية):** بلسم

The shade flower: flat, bright blooms in pink, red, white and orange that keep going where most bedding sulks, for the shaded corners of a Dubai garden in the cool months. It needs steady water.

## About

Meet impatiens, the flower for the corner no other bedding plant wants. Flat, round blooms in pink, red, orange, white and bicolours cover a mound of soft, juicy leaves, and they keep opening where the sun never quite reaches: under a pergola, along the north side of a villa, in a pot by a shaded door.

It comes from East Africa, and it has kept a liking for shade. NC State says impatiens performs best in part shade to full shade, that too much sun may scorch the leaves, and that the plant is sensitive to heat and wilts in hot, dry spells. In Dubai, where the winter sun is gentle and the summer sun is not, that makes it a cool-season shade plant and nothing more.

The mood is soft and lush rather than desert: a ribbon of pink under a tree, a shaded patio full of colour in January. Its price is attention to water. This is a plant that wants its soil evenly moist, and it tells you with a wilt when it is not.

Impatiens walleriana is a tropical perennial of the balsam family, Balsaminaceae, native to East Africa, from Kenya to Mozambique. Wikipedia gives its height as 15 to 60 cm and calls it perennial in frost-free conditions, usually grown in containers and bedding. It is known as busy Lizzie in the British Isles, and also as sultana or simply impatiens. NC State lists it as a tropical herbaceous perennial often grown as an annual, 15 to 60 cm tall, flowering in white, peach, apricot, pink and red.

The Dubai fit is shade, water and the cool season. Gulf News's 2006 list of annuals for Dubai puts impatiens under 'annuals that can endure shade or semi-shade'. NC State says it needs moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter, has low drought tolerance and can rot if overwatered. Plantsworld's listing for 'Impatiens-Impatiens Walleriana' gives an ideal growing range of 20 to 35 °C, which matches Dubai's mean highs of 24 to 31 °C from November to March but not the summer; in October, at 35.9 °C, it is at the limit. We found no Dubai Municipality or UAE nursery source on exact planting dates, so the windows below are our reading of the cool season.

One disease matters. NC State says impatiens is susceptible to downy mildew, and that fungicides used against other fungal diseases will not work on it; UF/IFAS says downy mildew took traditional impatiens out of nationwide production in the United States. We found no report from Dubai. NC State names Impatiens hawkeri, the New Guinea impatiens, as resistant, and UF/IFAS describes the New Guinea impatiens and SunPatiens as the mildew-resistant replacements. Buy healthy plants, water the soil rather than the leaves, and ask the nursery which type it is selling.

## Through the year

Impatiens's Dubai year is a cool-season one, in shade. Nursery plants go in from October to March, though in October, with the mean high still 35.9 °C, plant in the evening and keep them in full shade for the first week. Flowers run from about November to April, when mean highs are 24 to 31 °C from November to March. Keep the soil evenly moist; a hot, dry day will make the plants wilt. Downy mildew and root rot are the risks. By May, with highs at 38.2 °C, the plants are finished outdoors, and shaded beds usually move to a heat-tolerant foliage plant for summer.

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Oct–Mar | Plant: Cool-season planting window, in shade | Plantsworld's listing gives 20 to 35 °C as the ideal range, which fits Dubai's November to March highs. No Dubai Municipality list names impatiens; the months are our reading. |
| Nov–Apr | Flowers: Flowers through the cool months | NC State says impatiens flowers from late spring to early autumn in North Carolina; in Dubai the cool season takes its place. |
| Dec–Mar | Pest watch: Downy mildew, aphids and spider mites | NC State names downy mildew and says ordinary fungicides do not control it; it also lists aphids, spider mites, slugs and snails. |
| May–Sep | Heat stress: Too hot and bright outdoors | NC State says impatiens is sensitive to heat and wilts in hot, dry spells. Dubai's mean high is 38.2 °C in May and 41.9 °C in August. |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** Not grown outdoors through a Dubai summer; NC State says it is sensitive to heat and wilts in hot, dry spells.
- **Watering in winter:** Water two or three times a week at the base so the soil stays evenly moist but never soggy; NC State warns that overwatering can rot the plant.
- **While establishing:** Keep evenly moist for the first two weeks, and keep new plants in full shade for the first week; water in the evening or early morning.
- **Soil:** Moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter; mix plenty of compost into Dubai's sandy ground so it holds water.
- **Feeding:** A balanced liquid feed every 2 to 3 weeks while in flower.
- **Pruning:** Pinch back leggy stems to keep plants bushy; remove spent flowers and yellowing leaves.
- **Planting:** Plant nursery plants from October to March, 25 to 30 cm apart, in part to full shade, with the soil level the same as in the pot.
- **Pests and problems:** Downy mildew; Aphids; Spider mites; Slugs and snails; Root rot from overwatering
- **Toxicity:** The ASPCA lists Buzzy Lizzie (Impatiens spp., also called Patient Lucy and Impatience Plant) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating any plant can still cause mild stomach upset.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- Flowers well in part to full shade, where most bedding fails
- Listed by Gulf News as a Dubai annual that endures shade or semi-shade
- Bright, flat flowers in many colours on neat mounds
- Good in pots, shaded beds and hanging baskets
- Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses

**Cons**
- Low drought tolerance: it wilts quickly if the soil dries out
- Sensitive to heat and sun, so it is only a cool-season plant in Dubai
- Downy mildew can destroy it, and ordinary fungicides do not work on it
- Overwatering can rot the plant

## Common mistakes

- Putting it in full sun. NC State says too much sun may scorch the leaves, and Dubai's summer sun is far stronger than a typical garden's.
- Letting the compost dry out. It has low drought tolerance and wilts; sandy Dubai soil dries quickly, so use compost and a drip line.
- Overwatering to compensate. NC State says overwatering can rot the plant, so water deeply and let the soil surface dry a little between waterings.
- Watering over the leaves. Downy mildew spreads in damp foliage, and NC State says ordinary fungicides will not cure it.
- Trying to keep it through summer. It is a cool-season plant here; plan on replanting.

## Good to know

- Impatiens walleriana is the usual busy Lizzie; New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) and SunPatiens are different, mildew-resistant types, according to NC State and UF/IFAS.
- Plantsworld also sells Impatiens balsamina, the garden balsam, which is a different species; it is not the plant on this page.
- UF/IFAS says downy mildew took traditional impatiens out of nationwide production in the US, and now advises against planting them in Florida because they may become invasive; we found no equivalent report from the UAE.
- The ASPCA lists Buzzy Lizzie (Impatiens spp.) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Shade bedding, Pots by a shaded door, Hanging baskets under a pergola, Colour beneath trees

Put impatiens in the shade: on the east or north side of a villa, under a pergola or tree, or on a shaded balcony. NC State says it performs best in part to full shade and that too much sun scorches the leaves. Plant in drifts of one or two colours at the front of a shaded bed, with a drip line that keeps the soil evenly moist, or fill pots and baskets and group them so that the compost does not dry out. Plan to clear them in May.

- [Petunia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/petunia.md): Petunia takes the sunnier half of the same cool-season bed, while impatiens fills the shaded half.
- [Dianthus](https://plantguide.ae/plants/dianthus.md): Dianthus is another compact cool-season edging flower for the sunnier edge of the shaded bed.
- [Vinca](https://plantguide.ae/plants/vinca.md): Vinca is a Dubai summer bedding plant that takes over the sunnier end of the bed when impatiens is cleared.
- [Snapdragon](https://plantguide.ae/plants/snapdragon.md): Snapdragon adds height at the back of a part-shade bed, and both finish in April.

## FAQ

**When should I plant impatiens in Dubai?**  
From October to March, in the shade, as the weather cools. Plantsworld's listing gives an ideal range of 20 to 35 °C. In October, plant in the evening and keep them in full shade for the first week. No UAE source gives exact dates.

**Can impatiens grow in Dubai's sun?**  
Not well. NC State says it performs best in part to full shade, and that too much sun may scorch the leaves. Gulf News also lists it among annuals that endure shade or semi-shade.

**Why are my impatiens wilting?**  
Usually a lack of water: NC State rates its drought tolerance as low. Check the soil; if it is dry, water deeply. If the soil is wet, the cause may be root rot from overwatering.

**What is downy mildew on impatiens?**  
A disease that NC State says impatiens are susceptible to, and that ordinary fungicides do not control. UF/IFAS says it took traditional impatiens out of nationwide production in the US. If plants collapse with white growth under the leaves, remove them and ask the nursery about New Guinea impatiens.

**Is impatiens safe for pets?**  
The ASPCA lists Buzzy Lizzie (Impatiens spp.) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating any plant can still cause mild stomach upset.

## Related plants

[Petunia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/petunia.md) · [Dianthus](https://plantguide.ae/plants/dianthus.md) · [Vinca](https://plantguide.ae/plants/vinca.md) · [Snapdragon](https://plantguide.ae/plants/snapdragon.md) · [Wax begonia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/begonia.md)

## Photos

![Bed of pink, red and orange busy Lizzies under a tree in Ishigaki, Okinawa](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Impatiens_walleriana_in_Ishigaki%2C_Okinawa.jpg)  
Photo: M108t / CC BY 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Impatiens_walleriana_in_Ishigaki,_Okinawa.jpg))

![Magenta Impatiens walleriana flowers among hosta leaves in autumn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/2020-11-17_14_33_20_Impatiens_walleriana_with_red-purple_flowers_blooming_in_late_autumn_along_Metrotech_Drive_at_the_Sully_Place_Shopping_Center_in_Chantilly%2C_Fairfax_County%2C_Virginia.jpg)  
Photo: Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2020-11-17_14_33_20_Impatiens_walleriana_with_red-purple_flowers_blooming_in_late_autumn_along_Metrotech_Drive_at_the_Sully_Place_Shopping_Center_in_Chantilly,_Fairfax_County,_Virginia.jpg))

![Pink busy Lizzie flowers and buds among green leaves](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Impatiens_walleriana_%28pink%29.jpg)  
Photo: ChiK / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Impatiens_walleriana_(pink).jpg))

![White double Impatiens walleriana flowers, 'Pure White'](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Impatiens_walleriana_%27Pure_White%27_2019-06-07_01.jpg)  
Photo: Agnieszka Kwiecień (Nova) / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Impatiens_walleriana_'Pure_White'_2019-06-07_01.jpg))

## Sources

- [NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Impatiens walleriana](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/impatiens-walleriana/)
- [UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Impatiens](https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/impatiens/)
- [Wikipedia: Impatiens walleriana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impatiens_walleriana)
- [ASPCA: Buzzy Lizzie (Impatiens spp.)](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/buzzy-lizzie)
- [Kew WCVP, the checklist behind POWO (read via GBIF): Impatiens walleriana](https://www.gbif.org/species/206763772)
- [Arabic Wikipedia: بلسم (the genus Impatiens)](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%85)
- [Gulf News: Where to plant what (Chandana Roy, 2006), annuals that endure shade or semi-shade](https://gulfnews.com/lifestyle/home/where-to-plant-what-1.266904)
- [Acacia Garden Center: Dubai Garden Calendar](https://acaciagardencenter.com/blogs/blog/dubai-planting-calendar)
- [Wikipedia: Climate of Dubai (WMO 1991-2020 normals)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Dubai)
- [Plantsworld: Impatiens-Impatiens Walleriana-Flowering Plant (Dubai shop listing, checked 2026-10-29)](https://plantsworld.ae/products/impatiens-plant-walleriana-outdoor-flower-plant)