Busy Lizzie Impatiens walleriana 'Cajun Jambalaya Mix' (Cajun Series)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Impatiens walleriana 'Cajun Jambalaya Mix', commonly known as impatiens or busy Lizzie, is a vibrant and colorful flowering plant. It boasts a stunning variety of blossoms that come in a mix of warm hues such as red, orange, coral, salmon, and violet. Each flower is characterized by a standard impatiens shape—a rounded bloom with a flat face and a small, protruding spur at the rear. The petals are slightly overlapping and have a soft, almost velvety texture. The foliage of the Cajun Jambalaya Mix is bright green and provides a lush background for the colorful flowers. The leaves are typically oblong or elliptical with a slight point at the tip and have a glossy finish. The arrangement of leaves and flowers creates a full and bushy appearance, giving the plant a hearty and robust look. The stems are slender and may sometimes have a slightly succulent quality. This mix of impatiens is popular for the vivid and cheerful display it provides, which can effectively brighten up garden spaces and containers.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Balsaminaceae
- Synonyms
  Busy Lizzie, Impatiens, Touch-me-not, Patient Lucy, Sultana
- Common names
  Impatiens sultanii, Impatiens holstii, Impatiens walleriana, Impatiens walleriana Hook.f.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The plant commonly known as impatiens is generally considered to be non-toxic to humans. Therefore, ingesting parts of this plant is not expected to cause poisoning or serious health issues. However, it is always advisable to avoid eating ornamental plants as a precaution, and be aware of individual allergies that could cause adverse reactions in some people.
- To pets
  Impatiens are also generally considered to be non-toxic to pets, including cats and dogs. Ingestion of this plant should not cause poisoning or severe illness in pets. Nevertheless, some pets may experience mild gastrointestinal discomfort if they consume large amounts of the plant, but serious consequences are unlikely. Owners should still discourage their pets from eating ornamental plants as a safety precaution.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Annuals
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Mixed
- Height
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  10
- Native area
  Eastern Africa

Benefits

General Benefits
- Vibrant Colors: Impatiens walleriana 'Cajun Jambalaya Mix' offers a vibrant mix of colors that can brighten up any garden space.
- Shade Tolerance: This variety thrives in shade, making it ideal for areas where other plants might struggle.
- Continuous Blooming: The plant produces flowers consistently throughout the growing season, providing long-lasting visual appeal.
- Low Maintenance: Impatiens are known for being easy to care for, requiring minimal maintenance beyond regular watering.
- Compact Growth: With its compact growth habit, it is suitable for both garden beds and container gardening.
- Disease Resistance: The Cajun series has been bred for improved resistance to common impatiens diseases like downy mildew.
- Attracts Pollinators: While it's not their primary feature, impatiens can attract pollinators like butterflies, adding to the biodiversity of the garden.
- Easy Propagation: Impatiens can be easily propagated from cuttings, making it simple to expand your collection or share with friends.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Impatiens can add a vibrant accent to homemade pressed flower art due to their range of colors and the Cajun Jambalaya Mix would make especially lively patterns.
- Used in education, they can help teach children about plant growth cycles and basics of gardening through their easy-to-grow nature.
- These impatiens can contribute to science projects by showcasing the effects of varying light levels on plant growth and bloom.
- They can be instrumental in sensory gardens, giving a tactile experience with their unique and soft foliage, as well as visual stimulation through their vivid colors.
- Due to their fast-growing nature, impatiens like the Cajun Jambalaya Mix can be utilized in time-lapse photography projects to show plant development.
- Impatiens can be used as living decorations at events, with the Cajun Jambalaya Mix providing a range of colors for table centerpieces or venue styling.
- The plant can be potted and gifted as eco-friendly party favors that grow and serve as a lasting memory of the event.
- As an approach to reduce classroom noise, incorporating pots of impatiens can create a more serene environment, as plants have been shown to help absorb sound.
- When planted in hanging baskets, impatiens can add a burst of color to shaded urban balconies or patios where other plants might struggle to thrive.
- Impatiens can be creative subjects for botanical drawing or painting, inspiring artists with their bright and diverse hues found in the Cajun Jambalaya Mix.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
Impatiens are not specifically used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
Impatiens are not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Impatience: The name "Impatiens" speaks to the plant's quick to seed nature, symbolizing a restless and eager energy.
- Responsive: Resilient in different growing conditions, Impatiens are symbolic of adaptability and responsiveness to varying environments.
- Affection: Impatiens are often associated with motherly love and affection, likely due to their nurturing growth habit and the protective way the seed pods burst open when ripe.

💧

Every 3-4 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Summer

Propogation

✂️️

Not needed

Pruning

Water
Impatiens, commonly known as Busy Lizzie, prefer their soil to be kept consistently moist but not soggy. You should check the top inch of soil; if it feels dry, it's time to water. Generally, this means watering Busy Lizzies once every 2 to 3 days, depending on environmental conditions. When watering, it's best to water thoroughly, allowing water to reach the root zone. Aim to use about 16 ounces of water for smaller pots and up to a gallon for larger containers every week, adjusting as necessary for temperature and humidity levels.
Light
Busy Lizzie thrives in bright, indirect sunlight but can also tolerate shade, making it versatile in various lighting conditions. The ideal location is a spot where the plant can receive morning sunlight and afternoon shade or dappled sunlight throughout the day to protect it from intense midday heat.
Temperature
Busy Lizzie flourishes in temperatures between 60°F and 75°F. While they can tolerate brief periods of higher temperatures, prolonged exposure above 85°F can cause stress to the plant. It's important to protect the plant from temperatures below 50°F, as they are not cold-hardy.
Pruning
Prune Busy Lizzie to promote bushier growth and to remove any yellow or dead leaves. Pruning is best done in the early spring as new growth begins or throughout the growing season as necessary. Regular trimming every 3 to 4 weeks can help maintain the desired shape and encourage more blooms.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Impatiens (commonly known as busy Lizzies) prefer well-draining, rich soil with a good mix of peat, loam, and sand. Compost can also be added to enrich the soil. The best pH range for busy Lizzies is between 6.0 and 6.5, slightly acidic to neutral. A balanced, slow-release fertilizer can be mixed into the soil to support their growth.
Repotting
Busy Lizzies should be repotted annually to replenish the soil and accommodate root growth. They typically grow fast and can become root-bound if left in the same pot for too long. Spring is the best time for repotting busy Lizzies to ensure they have fresh soil for the growing season.
Humidity & Misting
Impatiens thrive in moderate to high humidity levels, ideally between 50% and 70%. They are native to East Africa, where humid conditions are common. If the air is too dry, especially indoors, using a humidifier or a pebble tray with water can help increase the humidity around the plants.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright, indirect light and maintain high humidity.
- Outdoor
  Part sun to shade, moist soil, shelter from strong winds.
- Hardiness zone
  10-11 USDA
Life cycle
Impatiens walleriana, commonly known as impatiens or touch-me-not, begins its life cycle when seeds are sown in warm, moist soil; germination usually occurs within 10-20 days. Once the seedlings have developed true leaves, they can be transplanted to individual pots or garden beds. As they grow, impatiens prefer shaded to partially shaded areas with well-drained soil and regular watering, avoiding waterlogged conditions which can lead to root rot. Flowering typically begins in late spring and continues through summer into fall, showcasing a vibrant range of colors which may include shades of the 'Cajun Jambalaya Mix'. During the flowering stage, regular deadheading of spent blooms encourages further blooming. As annuals, after the first frost, impatiens will die, completing their life cycle, but they often leave behind seeds that can start the next generation if conditions are favorable.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Summer
- Impatiens, commonly known as Busy Lizzie, can be easily propagated through stem cuttings, a popular method used by gardeners. To propagate Busy Lizzie via stem cuttings, one would typically cut a 3 to 4-inch (7.5 to 10 cm) long stem from a healthy parent plant, just below a leaf node, where the concentration of growth hormones is high. The lower leaves are removed, and the cut end of the stem is often dipped in a rooting hormone to encourage root development. The stem cutting is then inserted into a pot filled with moistened potting mix or directly into the garden soil in a shaded location. Keeping the soil consistently moist, roots generally begin to form within a few weeks. Once the roots are established, the plant can be transplanted to its final location. This method is simple and efficient, making it a favorite among growers for propagating Busy Lizzie.