Busy Lizzies - are we ok now?

[magpie2]

I saw some impatients for sale at a garden centre yesterday. Has the problem gone away now? Can we plant them again? I have so much shade in my garden and busy lizzies are just great for it! Somebody please tell me it's ok now!

[onefewernow]

Well I think they are invaluable in shade, and I love the white ones between shrubs. I planted a heap under a weeping silver pear once: they had fairly dark leaves, and looked great.

I used to hate hydrangeas too, and thought they looked like old ladies swimming hats, but I love them now , and even have some in large pots.

Perhaps we should start a thread on vulgar plants we all love. Or maybe it's an age thing ( 52 in my case)! I definitely have been right through my Sissinghurst white phase and well into the Christoper Lloyd colour riot!

[magpie2]

Vulgar plants? No! I was actually talking about the mildew problem. There was a major downy mildew epidemic that killed all the busy lizzies eveywhere, since 2011. I was asking if that is contained now.

[cantspel]

hydrangeas are not everyones favorite plant but i find them great for semi shaded areas where you want a largish spread and the newer varieties are so different from the old lady blue and pinks.
A garden is not complete without at least one hydrangea.
I will be planting buzy lizzies this year so i hope that they dont have any mildrew problem.

[onefewernow]

Oh I see! My mistake!

I havnt grown them recently. They are worth a try though.

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

If they're back on the market, I assume that's a sign that the disease is now under control.