Impatiens omeiana

RHS Plant Profile
Mount Omei busy lizzie

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Mount Omei busy lizzie John Fielding
Herbaceous Perennial
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Evergreen perennial to 50cm tall, with thick, fleshy stems and velvety, lance-shaped, coarsely- toothed, dark green leaves, lightly variegated with white midribs and veining; bears clusters of creamy-yellow flowers, each with an incurved spur, held above the foliage in summer

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Balsaminaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Impatiens can be annuals or evergreen perennials, with fleshy stems bearing simple, toothed leaves and solitary or clustered, spurred, 5-petalled flowers
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
China

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered, preferably shady spot. Mulch around the plant to help protect and over-winter the shallow rhizomes

Propagation

Propagate by seed indoors in early spring, by seed in situ outdoors in late spring, softwood cuttings or division in spring or early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free outdoors; if grown in a greenhouse or conservatory may be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly, vine weevil and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to damping off (seedlings) or grey mould (flower buds)