New Impatiens and Shade Options to Debut at CAST 2021

Busy lizzies (Impatiens walleriana) have long been staples of the shade garden, at least until a dozen years or so ago when the normally reliable crop became better known for wilting and defoliation thanks to impatiens downy mildew (Plasmorpara obducens). With that change came a drop in demand for the once popular crop, but not a shift in gardeners’ love-affair with it for coloring-up the shade.

Plant breeders got busy and in 2019 debuted some of the first Impatiens walleriana with proven resistance to impatiens downy mildew at California Spring Trials. The wait for the beloved garden impatiens to rejoin the spring landscape in all their dependable glory was over. In the meantime, new selections in the New Guinea impatiens and hybrid impatiens categories continued to expand, resulting in limitless possibilities for reclaiming the shade. Check out the slideshow above for a closer look.

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Expect to see some brand-new selections in impatiens debuting at California Summer Trials 2021 from these participating breeders, and keep an eye out for the New Variety Guide in the August issue of Greenhouse Grower to see more impatiens and shade items for retail sales in 2022.

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