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The Tale of Impatiens and the villain Downy Mildew
The mighty annual hero has fallen and the villain has a name: downy mildew. Shade-tolerant impatiens were one of the most popular landscape annuals for years. However, due to the spread of downy mildew, gardening has changed. Continuing the push to vanquish downy mildew, English Gardens will not be selling impatiens this year.
The Avenger Alternatives to Downy Mildew
Downy mildew affects all types of standard impatiens (Impatiens walleriana), including doubles, minis and interspecific hybrids such as Fusion. Even if you were to purchase impatiens that are disease free, it is just a matter of time.
Annual avengers have come to save the day and your garden. English Gardens is selling alternatives to impatiens, so you can continue to have beautiful annuals in the sun or shade areas of your yard. Here are our heroes’ names:
For Shade or Part Shade to Sun:
Begonias
- Begonia Bada Bing Series
- Begonia Bada Boom White
- Begonia Big Red with Bronze Leaf
- Begonia Big Red with Green Leaf
- Begonia Cocktail Series
- Begonia Go Go Series
- Begonia Illumination Orange
- Begonia Whopper Red with Bronze Leaf
- Begonia Whopper Red with Green Leaf
- Begonia Whopper Rose with Bronze Leaf
- Begonia Whopper Rose with Green Leaf
- Big Begonia Red with Bronze Leaf
- Big Begonia Red with Green Leaf
- Big Begonia Rose with Bronze Leaf
- Dragon Wing Begonia Pink
- Dragon Wing Begonia Red
- SureFire Begonia Red with Bronze Leaf
- SureFire Begonia Rose with Bronze Leaf
For Sun to Shade
New Guinea Impatiens
- New Guinea Impatien Celebrette Orange Sripe
- New Guinea Impatien Divine Burgundy
- New Guinea Impatien Divine Mix
- New Guinea Impatien Divine Violet
- New Guinea Impatien Divine White Blush
- New Guinea Impatien Infinity Electric Cherry
Coleus
- Coleus Chocolate Drop
- Coleus Dipt in Wine
- Coleus Fishnet Stocking
- Coleus Gay’s Delight
- Coleus Kong Limevein
- Coleus Kong Red
- Coleus Kong Rose
- Coleus Kong Scarlet
- Coleus Merlin’s Magic
- Coleus Pink Cahos
- Coleus Red
- Coleus Strawberry Drop
- Coleus Wizard Jade
- Coleus Wizard Mix
- Coleus Wizard Velvet Red
- Colorblaze Alligator Tear
- Colorblaze Dark Star
- Colorblaze Keystone
- Colorblaze Kingswood Torch
- Colorblaze Lifelime
- Colorblaze Maroond
- Colorblaze Velvet Mocha
For Sun
Argyranthemum Butterfly
SunPatiens
- SunPatiens Blush Pink
- SunPatiens Deep Rose
- SunPatiens Hot Coral
- SunPatiens Lilac
- SunPatiens Magenta
- SunPatiens Orange
- SunPatiens Red
- SunPatiens White
For Shade
Torenia
- Torenia Catalina
- Torenia Kanai Blue and white
- Torenia Kanai Deep Blue
- Torenia Kanai Mix
- Torenia Kanai Rose
Ideal for Sun & Summer Heat
Vinca
- Vina Cora
- Vinca Pacifica Halo Burgundy
- Vinca Pacifica Halo Mix
- Vinca Pacifica Lilac
- Vinca Pacifica Mystic mix
- Vinca Pacifica Punch
- Vinca Pacifica Really Red
- Vinca Pacifica White
Zinia Zahara Series
Downy Mildew is to Impatiens as Kryptonite is to Superman
Downy Mildew is fungal blight very similar in appearance to Powdery Mildew. However, unlike Powdery Mildew, Downy Mildew has no cure and the plant will eventually weaken and die.
Symptoms of impatiens with downy mildew vary depending on how advanced the disease is. Light-green yellowing of the leaves and leaves curling downward with gray markings or white fungal growth are sure signs of the disease. Some advanced symptoms include stunted plant and leaf growth, bare plants as the result of leaf and flower drop and softened, weak stems.
Downy Mildew spreads faster than a speeding bullet
Well, maybe not faster than a speeding bullet, but it spreads fast. The disease began in Europe, spread to Florida and eventually made its way to Michigan. The disease spreads through spores that grow on the undersides of infected leaves. The spores easily detach from the plant and spread by wind or water splash. Spores can travel hundreds of miles via wind currents, and plants not yet showing symptoms may unintentionally infect those around them.
It spreads most easily in moist conditions. Regardless of this past winter, downy mildew survives in the soil and on plant debris. Today, there is no product on the market that will cure this disease. There are however preventive fungicides that will help control Downy Mildew but only when used on an aggressive schedule. Environmentally and monetarily, this is not a realistic approach since most chemicals need to be applied every 7 days by a certified applicator. Experts are working to develop a cure and advance ways to eliminate downy mildew.
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