PanAmerican Seed re-launches impatiens line

PanAmerican Seed announced a re-launch Impatiens to the horticultural industry through its new series of I. walleriana with high resistance to Impatiens downy mildew. Beacon Impatiens, according to a press release, offer season-long performance and bring back fast-filling color to the shade without the disease risk. In addition to this product launch, PanAmerican Seed also announces a full-scale marketing plan for Beacon that targets greenhouse, retail and consumer audiences. The company will also “shine a light” on lesser known charitable causes by donating three percent of Beacon Impatiens’ global sales.

“Beacon Impatiens is truly an effort years in the making. Since the early days of the devastating disease, greenhouses have been waiting for the chance to bring Impatiens back,” says Anne Leventry, president of PanAmerican Seed. “To bring Beacon to market with proven high resistance to Impatiens downy mildew, we are confident that our greenhouse customers, retailers and gardeners alike will also have the confidence to grow garden Impatiens once more.”

“With a plant structure, flowering time and flower size that is similar to existing Impatiens series, Beacon is easy to incorporate into production planning,” says Lisa Lacy, global product manager for Beacon Impatiens. “There’s no special plant culture required for Beacon to be successful. So, for lasting color in the shade, you can rely on Beacon to thrive.”

For the 2020 launch season, PanAmerican Seed will donate three percent of Beacon sales to Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) research. OI a genetic bone disorder characterized by fragile bones that break easily; it is also known as brittle bone disease. It is estimated that approximately 25,000 to 50,000 people in the United States alone have OI. The donation will go toward helping The OI Foundation improve the quality of life for those living with osteogenesis imperfecta through research, education, awareness and mutual support.

Beacon Impatiens will have its official debut at California Spring Trials in Santa Paula, California, as well as other industry shows in 2019. There are currently six core colors and two mixes in the series. A limited supply is available now, with full-scale global availability in January 2020. For more information, visit panamseed.com