Impatiens Downy Mildew

Many of Britain's biggest garden centres will not be selling the country's favourite summer plant this year after it was nearly wiped out by disease.

The entire population of busy lizzies is being threatened by impatiens downy mildew, a fungal disease which has developed a resistance to the fungicide being used to treat it.

The airborne disease appears as a white powder on the underside of leaves, causing them to yellow and fall off, leaving a bare stem.

Experts are urging gardeners to buy other summer varieties such as geraniums, begonias, petunias or marigolds to fill their beds, borders, containers and baskets