How to Grow Busy Lizzie Starburst

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Busy Lizzie Starburst

Impatiens walleriana 'Starburst'

flower

Busy Lizzie Starburst is a compact, flowering annual cultivar prized for its distinctive star-shaped blooms with striped or bicolor petals. This cheerful variety produces abundant flowers in shades of pink, red, purple, and white throughout the growing season. It thrives in shade to partial shade, making it ideal for containers, hanging baskets, and shaded garden beds.

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Example Busy Lizzie Starburst timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Busy Lizzie Starburst
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
First Busy Lizzie Starburst blooms
Around May 17

≈ 30 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Busy Lizzie Starburst dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Shade to partial shade; 2-4 hours indirect light daily; avoid full direct sun which may bleach flowers

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Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; water when top of soil is dry to touch; increase frequency in hot weather and containers

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Spacing: 6-12 inches

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Days to maturity: 30-45 days to first flowers

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Planting depth: Surface sow seeds; do not cover as they need light to germinate. Transplants should be planted at same depth as nursery pot.

Soil

Type: Well-draining, rich potting soil or garden loam

pH: 6.0-6.5

Amendments:

compost peat moss perlite

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Zones 10-11; grown as annual in cooler zones or indoors

10a 10b 11a 11b

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Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny seedlings emerge with first true leaves appearing 7-10 days after germination

Keep soil moist and warm (70-75°F); provide bright indirect light; maintain high humidity

Vegetative Growth

2-3 weeks

Plant develops bushy foliage with multiple stems and dense leaf coverage

Pinch growing tips to encourage branching; maintain consistent moisture and indirect light; begin fertilizing weekly with balanced fertilizer

Bud Formation

1-2 weeks

Star-shaped flower buds appear in leaf axils and at stem tips

Continue regular watering and feeding; avoid overhead watering which may damage delicate buds

Flowering

8-12 weeks or until frost

Abundant distinctive star-shaped blooms with striped or bicolor patterns open continuously

Deadhead spent flowers to promote continuous blooming; maintain consistent moisture; feed every 1-2 weeks with flower-promoting fertilizer

End of Season

Variable depending on climate

Flowers diminish as temperatures cool or with reduced daylight

Can be brought indoors before frost; reduce watering; plant can be overwintered indoors in bright light

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

begonias hostas ferns impatiens (other varieties) coleus caladiums bracts

Avoid planting near:

direct sun-loving plants drought-tolerant plants like sedums plants requiring dry conditions

Common Pests

Spray with water to dislodge; increase humidity; use neem oil or insecticidal soap if severe
Remove with rubbing alcohol on cotton swabs; spray with insecticidal soap; isolate affected plants
Use yellow sticky traps; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; improve air circulation
Spray with water; use insecticidal soap; introduce natural predators like ladybugs
Allow soil surface to dry slightly between waterings; use sand layer on top of soil; use yellow sticky traps

Uses

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Edible Flowers

Culinary

The star-shaped flowers are edible and can be used as garnish on desserts, salads, and cocktails, adding color and subtle peppery flavor. [source]

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Container & Hanging Basket Displays

Household

Perfect for decorating patios, balconies, and shaded entryways in containers and hanging baskets where continuous summer color is desired. [source]

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Indoor Houseplant

Household

Can be grown as a long-lived houseplant in bright, indirect light, providing year-round flowering with proper care and humidity. [source]

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Traditional Folk Medicine

Medicinal

Impatiens species have been used in traditional Asian medicine for treating skin conditions and inflammation, though clinical evidence is limited. [source]

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Pollinator Garden

Wildlife

Attracts hummingbirds and pollinating insects to shaded gardens where other nectar sources are scarce. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Busy Lizzie is grown for ornamental flowers, not harvest. Deadhead spent blooms regularly by pinching or cutting just below the flower to encourage continuous flowering throughout the season.

Fun Facts

🌱 The name 'Impatiens' comes from the plant's seed pods, which explosively dehisce when ripe, flinging seeds several feet away—this is why they're sometimes called 'touch-me-nots'
🌱 Busy Lizzie Starburst flowers resemble tiny fireworks or geometric stars, making them visually distinct from standard Impatiens varieties
🌱 These plants were favored by Victorian gardeners for their prolific blooming and shade tolerance, and remain popular ornamental plants nearly 200 years later

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Annual Cultivar Deadhead Germination Partial Shade True Leaves

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