Disease Killing Florida Impatiens

Palm Beach County, Florida landscapers began noticing that impatiens are dying, caused by downy mildew disease. As a result, myriad plants have had to be removed, costing homeowners associations thousands of dollars, not to mention the impact on Florida's flower business. And there is no know cure as of yet.

Plasmopara obducens, the type of downy mildew that's killing the impatiens, attacks only the impatiens walleriana. SunPatiens and New Guinea are reportedly not susceptible. The disease is detected when white spores appear on the underside of a leaf.

''It's devastating because it's a very easy plant to grow. It's a huge business to lose,'' said Brad Bethurem, owner of Brad's Bedding Plants, Inc. ''We're not going to grow another impatiens until they change the genetics.''

Seed producers Ball Horticultural and Syngenta is telling growers that they are researching how to prevent downy mildew. Landscape contractors are replacing impatiens with other plants such as begonias, or in some cases just mulching the areas.