(Impatiens glandulifera)
Himalayan Balsam, commonly known as Indian Balsam and Policemans Helmet, is an invasive non native annual plant which has quickly infested the banks of British waterways shading out the native British plants that stabilise river banks through our winter months. Himalayan Balsam is now a real concern due to erosion of waterways and the adverse impact it is having on our native flora and fauna.
Himalayan Balsam grows between 1 and 2 metres in height with 2 or 3 serrated green leaves being arranged at node points along the green / red stems. About 3 months after germination the plant will flower, generally from June until autumn, producing most commonly dark pink or purple flowers although very pale pink almost white variations can also be found.
Flowering is then followed by the production of segmental seeds pods, which, when disturbed ‘explode’ projecting seeds up to 5 metres from the plant. This method results in highly effective seed dispersal. The small black spherical seeds are buoyant and if they land in water they can be carried great distances downstream, seeds can germinate in the water. Each plant can produce several thousand seeds during the growing season and these can remain viable for 2 years.
The plant dies during the first winter frosts and quickly decays making it difficult to identify during the winter months.
