As an experienced gardening and landscaping expert, I can confidently say that SunPatiens cannot be grown from seeds. This is a popular rumor that needs to be put to rest. If someone advises you that SunPatiens can be grown from seeds or if you come across SunPatiens seeds available online, please do not believe it. SunPatiens varieties are exclusively produced from vegetative cuttings.
Unlike other plants that can be propagated from seeds, SunPatiens are a hybrid variety that has been specifically bred for their superior flowering performance and disease resistance. To ensure the consistency and quality of these traits, SunPatiens are propagated vegetatively through cuttings rather than from seeds.
Vegetative propagation involves taking a cutting from a mature SunPatiens plant and rooting it to develop into a new plant. This method allows for the exact genetic replication of the parent plant, ensuring that the desirable characteristics are preserved in the offspring. These cuttings are then rooted and grown into plugs or liners by specialist growers before being made available for sale.
The reason why SunPatiens cannot be grown from seeds is due to the complex genetics involved in their hybridization. Hybrid plants are the result of crossbreeding two different parent plants, and the offspring often exhibit a phenomenon known as “hybrid vigor.” This means that the hybrid plants have traits that are superior to those of either parent plant. However, when hybrid plants reproduce sexually through seeds, their offspring do not reliably inherit the desired traits. As a result, growing SunPatiens from seeds will not guarantee the same characteristics and performance as the parent plant.
I have personally encountered many gardening enthusiasts who have been misled by false claims of SunPatiens seeds being available. They purchased these seeds with the expectation of growing their own SunPatiens plants, only to be disappointed when the plants did not exhibit the same qualities as the ones they admired. It is important to be cautious and verify information before purchasing any seeds online or from unreliable sources.
SunPatiens cannot be grown from seeds. They are exclusively propagated through vegetative cuttings to ensure the consistency and quality of their desirable traits. If you wish to enjoy SunPatiens in your garden, I recommend purchasing healthy and established plants from reputable nurseries or garden centers.
