Himalayan Balsam
(Impatiens glanulifera)
Himalayan balsam is a fast-growing annual plant that can reach over head-height. Purplish-pink helmet-shaped flowers produce a large amount of nectar attractive to bees (to the detriment of native flowering plants). Himalayan balsam grows rapidly and spreads quickly, smothering and shading out other vegetation. It has shallow roots so does not stabilise soil or river banks.
Seed pods open explosively when ripe, shooting around 800 seeds up to 7 metres. The seeds can then be spread by falling into watercourses or by inadvertent human transmission, on the soles of boots, for example.
Fascinating fact:
An invasive, non-native plant, Himalayan balsam was introduced into Britain in 1839 as an ornamental garden plant and is now naturalised.
Himalayan balsam is common in Britain and is a major weed problem near watercourses and on wasteland. There are local infestations near the Endrick, the burn in Killearn Glen and next to ditches in Drumtian Road. It can be controlled by pulling out plants from May to July before its seed pods ripen.
Busy Lizzie, the popular garden annual is a related species.
Did you know
It is an offence to plant or cause Himalayan balsam to grow in the wild.