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Impatiens
Environmental Weed
Botanical name: Impatiens walleriana (previously balsamia)
Photos: Ku-ring-gai Council
Description
Also known as Busy Lizzie. A colourful and hardy succulent, Impatiens is a popular plant for shady spots in the garden.
It has soft green serrated leaves and brittle stems. Flowers are red through pink to purple, flowering most of the year. Seeds prolifically.
Dispersal
Hundreds of tiny seeds explode from seed capsules.
Impact on bushland
Tolerant of shade and filtered sun, Impatiens has naturalised along many urban watercourses. Its brittle stems are easily broken and carried downstream by floodwaters.
Control
Manual:
- Pull up the plant and compost.
- Remove the whole plant, bag all material.
- Watch for new seedlings. Seed will germinate rapidly, covering the site once mature plants are removed.
See Manual Weed Control Techniques.
Chemical: Please contact your local control authority for advice on chemical control.