Plant Encyclopedia

Other Names:  New Guinea Impatiens, Busy Lizzie, Busy Lizzy

Group/Class:  SunPatiens Series

Brand:  Sakata Ornamentals

Description:

This all weather, mounded variety is ideal for adding an exciting look to any garden or container; large, vibrant flowers sitting atop dark green foliage bloom right into the fall; a perfect heat tolerant and low maintenance filler; disease resistant

Ornamental Features

SunPatiens® Compact Lilac New Guinea Impatiens features bold lilac purple round flowers at the ends of the stems from mid spring to early fall. Its pointy leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

SunPatiens® Compact Lilac New Guinea Impatiens is a dense herbaceous annual with a mounded form. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

SunPatiens® Compact Lilac New Guinea Impatiens is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting
• Hanging Baskets

Planting & Growing

SunPatiens® Compact Lilac New Guinea Impatiens will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 20 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. This fast-growing annual will normally live for one full growing season, needing replacement the following year.

This plant performs well in both full sun and full shade. However, you may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

SunPatiens® Compact Lilac New Guinea Impatiens is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. It can be used either as 'filler' or as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, depending on the height and form of the other plants used in the container planting. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.