Compact, early flowering, self branching and true colour plants are familiar words to describe a bedding plant variety. However, I am afraid this is all history. The new descriptives being used are vigorous, covers a large area, drought resistant, rain tolerant, flowers all summer,lasts into the fall, and can tolerate moderate frost. Impatiens became very popular in the early 1980s and the reason was not their early flowering or compactability but their excellent performance in the garden. Also a good percentage of the increase demand in the 1980s was related to the excellent impatiens varieties. The consumer wants his money's worth in good products and if he or she is satisfied, they will buy more next year. They will cut the branches of that spruce tree and create a 10' diameter circle which will require 300 impatiens plants to fill. Another home owner will dig out those bushes that have no colour to enjoy a rainbow of colour provided by an impatiens bed.
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