Are Your Impatiens Looking Awful This Year?

Even Dying?

 

The culprit may be Impatiens Downy Mildew (Plasmopara Obduscens). This disease was first identified in 2004 and has rapidly spread across the country in the years since. It has the ability to rapidly reduce a thick, lush bed of impatiens to a barren stand of defoliated stems. There is no treatment or cure. Some American growers have declined to sell impatiens as a result, while others sell on a “plant at your own risk” basis. Susceptible plants include standard garden impatiens, double impatiens and mini-impatiens. New Guinea Impatiens ARE NOT at risk.

Signs And Symptoms:

Early symptoms may include yellowing or yellow stippling of the leaves and downward cupping of the upper leaves, giving plants the appearance of needing water. The underside of infected leaves may also have a white powdery coating. As the disease progresses, leaves will drop leaving only the top few before the stem eventually dies.

For More Information:

Chester’s has made this PDF fact sheet available to all our customers. It contains important information on the disease and a survey that you can return to us reporting any experience you may have had in your gardens this year. You can mail it or drop it off in the store.