Ok, I am sorry I made what I thought was a tongue-in-cheek remark, barely serious... "Ironically, you have probably eaten unlabeled genetically modified tomatoes from the supermarkets." There are no labels that indicate the presence of GMO ingredients. If they were for sale, I'm sure somebody bought 'em, just like all of the other unlabeled GMO food. "Some genetically modified corn, complete with BT insecticide genes, inadvertently got into the food supply as corn chips. " Any food in a package is likely to have GMO ingredients, if you understand what all of the code words are for the various wheat, corn, and soy products. "As far as I know, all of the soybeans and most of the corn grown in this rural area are GMOs." Likely unless it is an organic farm, which is impossible to have in close proximity to a non-organic farm. "Many millions of Americans have already eaten GE food without knowing it." No doubt, unless every bit of their food says "organic" on it. "In contrast to that, I don't know of any garden seed companies that carry GE seed." GE seeds are made for large-scale farming, not home gardeners. Unless/until patents expire... "In fact, many seed companies include a pledge in their catalog that they will never offer any GMO seed." Easier than explaining the situation, but good to know people have a general aversion. I still assert that such aversion is unlikely to extend to ornamental plants for most people, but certainly only know what I think. There is a huge difference and I don't even understand why the food issue was brought up, unrelated as far as I'm concerned. "They do that because organic gardeners have already wrongfully boycotted seed companies that they feared might be offering retail genetically modified seed.... I think any seed company that offered GE mildew-resistant Impatiens walleriana would find themselves instantly boycotted. " Knee-jerk hysteria is almost always bad but fortunately all too common in our sound byte atmosphere. Hopefully those concerned will maintain their interest long enough to become more familiar with what is going on in this area. "...it will probably be restricted by a plant patent." That's the whole point of spending the money to produce this result. To make MORE money, as is already the case with Impatiens. Under the umbrella of what Rhizo said, that selective cross-breeding is the standard way to produce disease-resistant cultivars, it's really a moot point.

I have some semps growing in my kitchen window right now, they were split off of my sister's Mama plant. I may keep a couple inside, but most of them are going outside as soon as I get a planter for them. They seem to be okay so far (it's been about a month), couldn't say for long term. Also, I couldn't help but laugh when you asked about the cobwebs, I had accidentally left a Semp my aunt gave me at my Mom's house until a couple of days ago. When my Mom asked this morning if I had taken it (she, I dunno, thought that it had gotten fed up waiting and left, perhaps?), she thanked me for taking it, saying the spiderweb on it was giving her the heeby-jeebies. I told her that was part of the plant, that it was called a Sempervivum arachnoideum, because it looked like it had a spider web on it, and SHE DIDN"T BELIEVE ME! It took me ten minute to convince her, and I think she still has doubts. Hopefully my sister will be able to fully convince her that our plants have not been infested by spiders! :-) Good luck with your semps, I love mine. Any plant with a Latin name that means "always living" is my kind of plant!

They do not spread. They can be a little tricky here, not liking our hot, humid summers. East-facing sounds good, if it gets some full sun early in the day, and some shade from the hotter, mid-day sun.

Some ideas, none perfect. Google each. I, often, put a name in my browser, and then choose 'images' to see tons of photos of it. Not possible with some listed below. Climbing Rose 'Winner's Circle' seems disease free and super vigorous. Perennial Pea, species latifolia, grows locally in the most infertile, sunny places, and is easy from seed. Any Lonicera sempervirens seem no care, Gelsemium sempervirens is evergreen and vigorous. All have downsides.