Himalayan balsam

Impatiens glandulifera

Himalayan balsam is a tall plant with beautiful pink flowers. It loves to grow near water and can spread quickly, making it a fun plant to spot in gardens and parks!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Himalayan balsam is a tall plant with hollow, often reddish stems, distinctive large, orchid-like flowers that range from pink to purplish or white. Its helmet-shaped blossoms and serrated, lance-shaped leaves make it stand out.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderEricalesFamilyBalsaminaceaeGenusImpatiens

Himalayan balsam

Interesting facts

Did you know its scientific name, Impatiens, means "impatient" because of its popping seeds?

Each Himalayan balsam plant can produce thousands of seeds, making it a super speedy spreader!

It's so good at growing that it can sometimes grow several centimeters in a single day!

You can often hear a soft "pop" when its ripe seed pods burst open to scatter seeds!

Special abilities

Himalayan balsam can violently launch its seeds up to 7 meters, helping it rapidly spread and colonize new areas.

It produces abundant nectar in its large flowers, attracting many bees and ensuring successful pollination for reproduction.

The Himalayan balsam can grow over 3 meters tall in a single season, outcompeting native plants for sunlight.

Measurements & details

Height: 100-300 cm
Spread: 30-80 cm
Flower Size: 2-4 cm
Bloom Season: Summer to early autumn
Edible: Yes
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Annual
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Buff-tailed bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

Collects abundant nectar, helping the plant reproduce.

pollinates

Western honey bee

Apis mellifera

A significant source of late-season nectar for honey production.

pollinates

Common carder bee

Bombus pascuorum

Attracted to its large flowers, aiding in seed production.

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Rapid Growing

Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.