Buying Busy Lizzies - advice from Thompson & Morgan

Why can't I buy Busy Lizzies (Impatiens walleriana) from Thompson & Morgan in 2012?

Information on Busy Lizzie problems from the Royal Horticultural Society

You may be aware of problems reported nationally concerning downy mildew disease (race 2 and 3) affecting the common Busy Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana). This is caused by an airborne fungus; it is worsened by humid conditions and plants can be specifically infected following a wet spring. Downy mildew symptoms on infected plants include yellowing leaves and a characteristic white fungal growth specifically on the undersides of the leaves. This is followed by leaf loss which eventually leaves just a mass of slimy stems, often with a tuft of yellow leaves at the tips. Plants will eventually die off.

 Click here to download the Garden News article on Busy Lizzies and downy mildew (PDF).

There are no chemical downy mildew treatments or controls available at the present time to help, prevent or eradicate the problem. It is recommend that infected plants are disposed of, burnt or buried deeper than 50cm (20in). Affected areas should be rested from growing Impatiens walleriana for at least a year to avoid recontamination. This strain of downy mildew disease is specific to the common Busy Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana) only, so other bedding plants can be grown without risk.

At Thompson & Morgan we want you, our customers, to get the very best from our plants in your garden this summer. With this in mind we have withdrawn the affected busy lizzies from our 2012 range due to the problems with downy mildew. We will review this again for 2013.

Don't give in to downy mildew - try some of these alternative bedding varieties - you won’t be disappointed!

There are plenty of alternatives to keep your beds and patio containers looking at their best this summer. Take at look at our suggestions below for some great alternatives to Busy Lizzies (Impatiens walleriana).

Begonia Scentsation Mixed F1 Hybrid

These vigorous plants produce wonderful, double to semi-double, pastel-coloured flowers and are stunning grown in individual pots or mixed containers. On damp mornings and sunny days, your garden will be filled with a delightful medley of fragrances from fresh lemon to soft rose.

Buy Begonia Scentsation Mixed F1 Hybrid

Begonia Blackmore & Langdon's Picotee

Blackmore & Langdon have specialised in breeding tuberous begonias since 1901 and have won over 70 gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show for their eye-catching displays. This spectacular large flowered picotee mixture produces high quality blooms in a wide range of picotee shades and is perfect for growing in containers.

Buy Begonia Blackmore & Langdon's Picotee

Petunia Super Cascade Improved F1

For hanging baskets, containers and walls. The Super Cascade range is free-flowering and will cascade in 8 different colours - blue, white, pink, blush, cerise, salmon, scarlet and violet from a formula blending of seed. Weather tolerance, heat and wet, is excellent; they bloom from planting out to frost and have good drought tolerance.

Buy Petunia Super Cascade Improved F1

Petunia Double Cascade Burgundy Plum Vein F1

Giant, fully double flowers of burgundy or plum veined, often more than 10cm across! Add to this its cascading habit and you have one of the very best basket and container plants, creating a waterfall of pleated powderpuffs all summer long. Height: 23-30cm.

Buy Petunia Double Cascade Burgundy Plum Vein F1