# small balsam (*Impatiens parviflora*) Small balsam is a lovely little plant with bright yellow flowers. It grows in shady places and is often found in forests. Its flowers attract bees and butterflies, making it a cheerful sight in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![small balsam](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Impatiens_parviflora_-_plant_%28aka%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Impatiens_parviflora_-_plant_%28aka%29.jpg) ## Appearance The small balsam has distinctive translucent, pale green stems and small, pale yellow flowers, often with a reddish spot and a long curved spur. Its oval, serrated leaves are arranged oppositely, making it visually distinct from many common wildflowers due to its delicate, see-through appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Balsaminaceae - **Genus:** Impatiens ## Interesting facts - It arrived in Europe from Central Asia, likely escaping from gardens to grow wild. - Its stems are so clear, you can almost see water moving through them! - The plant's name 'Impatiens' means impatient, a nod to its exploding seed pods! - This plant can grow almost anywhere, even in neglected, damp, and shady spots! ## Special abilities - **Seed Shooter:** Small balsam can launch its seeds up to several meters away by exploding its ripe seed pods, helping it spread far and wide. - **Shade Conqueror:** Small balsam has a super-fast growth rate and can thrive in deep shade, allowing it to quickly outcompete other plants. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-80 cm - **Spread:** 20-40 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 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 nectar from flowers - **Pollinates:** European honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits flowers for nectar - **Eaten by:** Spanish slug (*Arion lusitanicus*) — eats leaves and young shoots ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [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. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch the plants in nature, as some can be delicate. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify small 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 small balsam? 30-80 cm ### How wide does small balsam spread? 20-40 cm ### How big are the flowers on small balsam? 1-2 cm ### When does small balsam bloom? Summer to early autumn ### Is small balsam edible? Yes ### Is small balsam toxic? None ### What is small balsam's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Cultus Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cultus-lake-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/coquihalla-canyon-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Coquihalla River Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/coquihalla-river-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Gamble Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gamble-park) — British Columbia, CA · Park [View all places to see small balsam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/small-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: [Small Balsam: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/small-balsam)