Impatiens Crop Threatened By Fungus, Affecting Business For Area Nurseries

DETROIT (WWJ) - Those shades of pink, red and white won't be seen in yards across Michigan this year. That's because a fungus known as downy mildew is killing impatiens, the state's favorite annual bedding flower.

That's affecting many metro Detroit nurseries, who say they won't be carrying the plants this year, including the Plymouth Nursery.

"Impatiens has been not the top, but one of the top sellers in the annual business for many years in our industry, so yes it's a big hit," said owner Jeff Jones.

He says they usually sell more than 1,000 flats of impatiens a year. He suggests alternates such as new guinea, and sunpatiens.