# 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! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Policeman's Helmet ![Himalayan balsam](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Valley_of_flowers_National_Park_04.JPG&width=800) Photo: Guptaele, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Valley_of_flowers_National_Park_04.JPG) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Balsaminaceae - **Genus:** Impatiens ## 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 - **Explosive Seed Cannon:** Himalayan balsam can violently launch its seeds up to 7 meters, helping it rapidly spread and colonize new areas. - **Nectar Powerhouse:** It produces abundant nectar in its large flowers, attracting many bees and ensuring successful pollination for reproduction. - **Super Growth Spurt:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Invasive](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/invasive): Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low While Himalayan balsam is not harmful, it's best to avoid touching plants you don't know. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Himalayan balsam? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Himalayan balsam? 100-300 cm ### How wide does Himalayan balsam spread? 30-80 cm ### How big are the flowers on Himalayan balsam? 2-4 cm ### When does Himalayan balsam bloom? Summer to early autumn ### Is Himalayan balsam edible? Yes ### Is Himalayan balsam toxic? None ### What is Himalayan balsam's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Rockland Residential Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rockland-residential-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Rockport Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rockport-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Thomaston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/thomaston-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Knowsley Safari Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/knowsley-safari-park) — England, GB · Zoo - [Bright Angel Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bright-angel-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Tom Davies Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tom-davies-square) — Ontario, CA · Neighborhood [View all places to see Himalayan balsam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/himalayan-balsam) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Himalayan balsam: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/himalayan-balsam)