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Where are the Busy Lizzies?

What happened to Busy Lizzies in 2011 and why aren't B&Q selling them in 2012?

B&Q have taken the decision not to sell any Busy Lizzies in 2012 to help growers control the virus and protect the plant's future. This supports our quality in store standards and responsible retailing.

Good news is that for 2012 we have plenty of alternatives we can offer the customer!! We don’t want our customers to be disappointed because we aren’t selling Busy Lizzies so here is a quick guide to offering the customer an alternative to ensure their garden still looks great this year...

For more about the disease see below.

We can offer you a range of alternatives to ensure your garden looks great this year...

Geranium

Probably the most reliable and durable of all Summer bedding plants, will flower right through until the 1st frosts with an excellent range of bright colours. They are low maintenance and will thrive in any position in the garden.

Begonia

Extremely free flowering with vibrantly coloured flowers on glossy foliage, ideal in both sun and excellent in shady area. Begonia Semperflorens are perfect for creating long lasting ground cover.

Petunia

An extremely versatile plant, they are ideal for use in the garden, pots and hanging baskets and available in a very wide range of colours. We have loads of petunias available in the range with nearly 20 different colours to choose from!

New Guinea Impatiens

A new introduction that is perfect for pots and hanging baskets, provide large bright exotic flowers which is disease resistant. Good in sun or shady positions.

Verbena

Both upright and trailing Verbena look fantastic in baskets and compliment other popular flowers such as lobelia. They are free flowering starry flowers and good in all situations.

Marigold

Bright, free flowering, robust and reliable performers. Excellent in dry conditions in the garden or containers.

Lobelia

Produces a profusion of small flowers throughout the summer. The perfect companion plant in borders, pots and hanging baskets

About the disease

  • Busy Lizzies are the country's favourite bedding plant but its been hit by a fungus disease known as Impatiens downy mildew.
  • The infection thrives in wet, mild weather and threatens to wipe out one of Britain’s most popular plants.
  • At the moment this disease is resistant to fungicides.
  • No other plants are at risk, however the disease could still be in the soil of the gardeners who planted it this year.
  • B&Q have taken the decision not to sell any Busy Lizzies in 2012, to help stocks recovery time to control the virus and protect the plants future

How to plant bedding plants

Planting out bedding is as near as you can get to instant gardening.

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