A while back, I wrote about a terrible and incurable fungal disease sweeping our nation and destroying our lovely Busy Lizzie plants. Many seed and plant distributors have now withdrawn sale of all suseptable varieties for the next year or so to diminish the disease.
Some good new however, New Guinea varieties of Busy Lizzie are far less susceptible to downy mildew disease (Plasmopara obducens).
Make way for the New Guinea!
New Guinea Busy Lizzies, in my opinion, make for better displays. Generally, the flowers are larger than the common Impatiens walleriana, and the foliage tends to be more colourful and interesting. Also, they do well as indoor plants and don’t become as pale and stretched in low light.
Impatiens Busy Lizzie ‘Divine’ flowers from June until November, in a bright mix of colours above strong, spreading plants that will rapidly fill pots and cover beds and borders.
Grow to a height of 30cm (12”). Spread: 35cm (14”). Grow Busy Lizzies in any well drained soil, in sun or semi shade. Feed and water frequently throughout the summer to promote an endless supply of colourful Busy Lizzie flowers.