The Sunny Lady Impatiens were my solution to the ever-encroaching shade in my yard. They behave like other impatiens and come in many beautiful colors, but they can handle quite a bit of heat and sun.
What I didn’t know until recently is that there is a new disease on the march, especially in the Midwest—impatiens downy mildew. It can wipe out an entire bed of impatiens in a flash. First the leaves curl and become discolored. That’s followed by the appearance of white growth on the undersides of the leaves. Eventually the flowers and leaves drop and you’re left with nothing but stems.
The disease is spreading rapidly through sales of bedding plants at garden centers. Many garden centers reduced their impatiens offerings last spring or stopped selling them altogether. The disease is not just present in the plants, it’s also in the soil, and it can last for five or more years.
When I first read about impatiens downy mildew I thought my plants might be safe because I sow my own seeds, but the spores from the disease can be carried by wind or rain. If any of your neighbors purchase infected bedding plants, the disease can spread to your plants. If you suspect your plants may have the disease, destroy them immediately.
Sadly I think my plants were already infected. I had some clumps of impatiens that started behaving strangely two summers ago, but I chalked it up to the intense heat and drought we were experiencing. Last summer was more moderate but some of my impatiens still looked a little sickly by mid-summer. I didn’t buy any bedding impatiens last summer (I only grew my own plants), but I did the year before. That may be how my plants developed the disease. Currently there is no cure for impatiens downy mildew and there are no resistant strains.
I guess my search for the perfect shade plant is not over.