Sunpatiens are potentially the perfect plant.
They’re amazing in the landscape, versatile and easy to grow. If you plant them around your mailbox, be prepared for your neighbors to be asking you to help them with their landscaping too. SunPatiens have only been available a couple of years but they have quickly become one of the most popular plants with landscapers. They’re one of my favorites too!
Recently, the Gazette did an article about the problem with downy mildew on impatiens. It has not been an issue in Kalamazoo so far but it has impacted other areas of the country. The good news is that SunPatiens do well in the shade too and are not susceptible to downy mildew. They may be a good alternative to consider.
SunPatiens – easiest flower for sunny spots
We have been looking at new flower varieties for many years – trying to find the next important introduction – and SunPatiens – a new impatiens for full sun conditions is very special. Finally an easy to grow flower for sunny spots that blooms and blooms and blooms.
So SunPatiens is a fun cross between a New Guinea impatiens that has big flowers and likes shade – and a wild, species type of impatiens that is tough and grows in hotter areas.. The result of this odd cross is a family of plants that get covered in flowers but, unlike common impatiens, that thrives in hot and sunny spots. I like them as they take almost zero care – no real bugs or pest issues, no need to remove dead flowers, and only moderate pruning if they start to get too tall or stretched. Only real trick with SunPatiens is they do like water (as do all impatiens) so we like to add a few inches of mulch to the flower beds to help keep the water in – and the weeds out. Water them well then stand back and watch the flowers.
From design side – each plant will form a nice ball shaped mound. Most of the SunPatiens are pretty good sized – going knee-high to about 3’ in the garden. We like to use them in large patio pots – typically will use 3 plants in a 24” diameter patio pot and we like to use all the same color in a pot to get maximum impact. If you are putting them in a garden the plants can be spaced 12-15” apart if you are in a hurry for flowers and 18” apart if you have the time to let the plants fill-in.
Check out the video http://youtu.be/5WhpeRZj-nk
