What flowers could replace impatiens since they were stricken with some disease last year in Connecticut.

Linda B
by Linda B
Impatiens won't even be sold in Connecticut this year. I don't know what to plant to replace them! I've been planting impatiens for 40 years and my grandmother had them in her garden when I was a teenager. Does anyone have any idea on what would replace impatiens? Thanks Linda
  11 answers
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Mar 04, 2013
    You could plant New Guinea impatiens, Linda. They are not affected by the downy mildew that has become such a problem with old-fashioned impatiens. Begonias would be another alternative.
  • Lawn Pro Lawn Pro on Mar 04, 2013
    Vincas,begonia,Mexican petunias. Some times you need to rotate your selection Due to mildew,the next pet are my favorite because every morning you have fresh new flowers blooming,
  • H.C. Lawn H.C. Lawn on Mar 04, 2013
    I liked the Purple wave petunia or Geraniums
  • Becky P Becky P on Mar 04, 2013
    I don't know what I would do if I couldn't plant impatiens. Those are my go-to flower for the front yard.
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Mar 04, 2013
    @Linda B Douglass is right the New Guinea impatiens are a good contender. Have you considered doing some nicotiniea and allysum. The allysum may also reseed itself for next season. Both of those plants also do well in a hanging basket. I gave up on petunia a number of years ago because of the constant dead heading required. Let us know what you choose and how it works. Thanks for posting :)
  • Linda B Linda B on Mar 05, 2013
    Hi, Gail, I'm not a big nicotiana fan and allysum is nice but so small. New Guinea impatiens will probably be my pick as I also gave up on petunias. They always ended up with all greens halfway through the summer. Thanks for helping.
  • Linda B Linda B on Mar 05, 2013
    Good luck, Becky. I hope the disease for impatiens doesn't hit your area. That's just what I planted also - all over. I had forgotten about vincas, so I guess I'll go with those and New Guinea impatiens along with wax begonias, geraniums, and other miscellaneous flowers. But the impatiens was the mainstay of the garden! Thanks, everybody. Much help!
  • Barb Rosen Barb Rosen on Mar 05, 2013
    I have the same problem and will be using some of the new pretty colors of coleus and begonias this year,
  • Susan Susan on Mar 05, 2013
    have you heard of sunpatiens? I planted them last summer. Although they are marketed as a full sun plant I don't recommend it. They love partial shade and bloom all summer! I will be planting them again!
  • 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) on Mar 06, 2013
    You also might consider Torenia and Browailia, not as much color selection but a good shady show can be had from them combining them with some of the great coleus. Balsam is another great shade annual color plant, which is actually an old fashioned impatiens and very easy to seed into your garden. My Mom used to call them 'touch me nots' (and impatiens were sultanas).
  • Becky P Becky P on Mar 06, 2013
    @360 Sod (Donna Dixson), had to google that one, Balsam. Our flower shops around here don't carry that. We only get to have the ole standbys. I am always excited when I find something new.