Impatiens walleriana aka Busy Lizzy

Impatiens walleriana, also known as Busy Lizzy, balsam, sultana, or simply impatiens, is a herbaceous plant native to eastern Africa from Kenya to Mozambique, and is a member of the Balsaminaceae family. The plant prefers to grow in tropical climates and can reach a height of up to 2 feet. Its shoots are adorned with pale red or dark green, wide, serrated leaves that are arranged alternately. The solitary flowers can be single or double and come in a wide variety of colors, except for blue and yellow shades. When the flowers fade, the plant produces a capsule-shaped fruit that opens easily after ripening, and many little seeds fall out. Impatiens walleriana is an annual bedding plant that does best in part shade to full shade. However, it is susceptible to downy mildew caused by the ‘fungus-like’ organism Plasmopara obducens. An alternative, Impatiens hawkeri, is resistant to downy mildew. The Latin specific epithet walleriana honours a British missionary, Horace Waller (1833–1896).