Himalayan Balsam is a non-native invasive. It was introduced to North America as an ornamental garden plant. Himalayan Balsam is seen Spring to Autumn and is best treated in early Summer. Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glanulifera) is an attractive looking flower, with a stout, hollow stem, trumpet shaped pink/white flowers and elliptical shaped green leaves. Himalayan balsam is an annual herb, native to the western Himalayas. So expert advice should be your first port of call. Himalayan Balsam Identification and Control Himalayan Balsam, Impatiens glandulifera is a large annual plant native to the Himalayas. Identification. Himalayan balsam was introduced as a garden plant in 1839, but soon escaped and became widely naturalised along riverbanks and ditches, especially close to towns. If you […] Including rivers/streams is important. It grows rapidly and spreads quickly, smothering other vegetation as it goes. nov.: a fungal agent for the biological control of Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera). Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) has rapidly become one of the UK’s most widespread invasive weed species, colonising river banks, waste land, damp woodlands, roadways and railways.It reaches well over head height, and is a major weed problem. Identification of Himalayan balsam. Leaves are lanceolate with serrated edges, stalked, shiny, dark green with a reddish midrib. Himalayan balsam is widely distributed across Canada and can be found in eight provinces. The plant was introduced to the UK in the early 1940’s by the horticultural industry. Even if you accidentally cause this plant to grow you could face criminal charges. Himalayan Balsam can grow between 6 to 10 feet tall and is easily identifiable by its slightly serrated green oval shaped leaves, edged in red. Himalayan balsam plants grow in dense stands that suppress the growth of native grasses and other flora. Identification. A very invasive, non-native plant which is illegal to grow or cause the growth of. Himalayan balsam plants can produce around 2500 seeds each year. Himalayan Balsam and Kiss-me-on-the-mountain arise from the fact that the plant originates in the Himalayan mountains. Each plant can produce as much as 800 seeds and therefore removal should be undertaken in the winter months when the plant is … Hexagonal fleshy hollow stems that are reddish in colour. 2. 3). Identification Leaves – Slender, oval and shiny about 15cm long with a red vein running up the middle. Himalayan Balsam originates from the Western Himalayas. insects) at the expense of indigenous species. It is now considered a pest in many countries throughout the world. Identification Confirm Himalayan balsam identification. Himalayan Balsam was one of my successes. Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera Invasive Species Identification and Control Guide Species Description Himalayan Balsam is a native species to the western Himalayans in North India. Wolfsbane The seedpods open in such a way that the seeds are thrown several metres away from the parent plant, helping the species to rapidly spread – often quoted as 20 metres in all directions per season. Its exploding seeds meant it quickly escaped gardens and it is now established as an invasive species across most of the world. Himalayan Balsam • It grows in dense thickets, often along waterways (see picture no. Himalayan Balsam has an orchid shaped flower resembling a British policeman’s helmet, which gave rise to its other common name of “Policeman’s helmet”. Identification. ... Himalayan balsam is listed under schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. 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. Himalayan balsam is an invasive herbaceous plant that was initially introduced to North America as a garden ornamental. The plant likes to grow on river banks where it easily establishes, forms large patches and spreads quickly by seed. It grows in dense stands and can be up to 2m tall. Himalayan balsam grows in dense clumps and is a herbaceous annual plant, which is easily identifiable when mature. • Individual plants reach 2-3m have translucent fleshy stems, pink-purple slipper-shaped flowers and large oval pointed leaves with obvious teeth around their edges (see above and pictures no. Consider surrounding properties and potential for reintroduction. Before, around 1978, I don’t remember these Balsam plants growing, but soon after, they had spread, using the numerous streams which fed the upper River Irwell. I found this plant Very interesting! How to identify Himalayan Balsam. Puccinia komarovii var. Tanner RA; Gange AC, 2013. Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum Invasive Species Identification and Control Guide Species Description Giant Hogweed is a species native to the Caucasus mountains in South West Himalayan Balsam. Himalayan Balsam. Click here for the latest Himalayan Balsam information leaflet. Invasive Species Guide: Himalayan Balsam 1 | P a g e Invasive Species Guide: Himalayan Balsam Photos are sourced from GBNNSS and Groundwork South. Himalayan balsam ( Impatiens glandulifera ) is a relative of the busy Lizzie, but reaches well over head height, and is a major weed problem, especially on riverbanks and waste land, but can also invade gardens. Himalayan balsam grows up to 3 metres high with a hollow and bamboo-like … The flowers range from fuchsia to pale pink in colour and tend to appear between June and October, followed by seed pods … In autumn the plants die back, leaving the banks bare of vegetation, and therefore liable to erosion. glanduliferae var. Invasive Himalayan balsam can also adversely affect indigenous species by attracting pollinators (e.g. It was introduced to Kew Gardens in 1839 and is thought to have mainly been spread by people passing seeds to each other. Although very attractive in appearance, Himalayan Balsam is a pest and one of the most rapidly spreading Invasive weeds in the UK. History. Himalayan Balsam is a distinctive plant with reddish jointed stems and long, green, oval-shaped leaves. It was introduced to Canada in the early 1900s as an ornamental garden flower. It has an explosive seed capsule, which scatters seeds over a distance of up to 7m. Himalayan Balsam Identification. Himalayan Balsam Species Impatiens glandulifera. Each plant has the ability to spread over 7 metres every season, making it difficult to eradicate without a coordinated approach, particularly around rivers and water courses. The stem of a Himalayan Balsam plant will be hollow, red-jointed, and hairless. Legislated Because. It can be seen along several trails and roadsides in Prince Edward Island. Himalayan balsam also promotes river bank erosion due to the plant dying back over winter, leaving the bank unprotected from flooding. Produced by Cymdeithas Llandudoch, St Dogmaels Community Association The information on these pages has been pulled together by non-experts, through extensive web searches and limited consultation with experts. Annual reproduction of this plant occurs in the summer, when the … Himalayan balsam is native to the foothills of the Himalayas, India and Pakistan, and was first released into the UK in 1839 as an ornamental garden plant. In the early 1800s it was introduced to many parts of Europe, New Zealand and North America as a garden ornamental. We would recommend you also look elsewhere for further information, possibly not covered on these pages. Although sometimes sold as an ornamental, this native of Asia has been added to the Washington State Noxious Weed list due to its invasive nature. It is illegal to move soil which contains its seeds and accidentally spreading them and its growth. Several photographs of Himalayan Balsam and a description of the plant. – Especially the ripe seed pods! Best Regards. The genus name Impatiens, means "impatient", and refers to its method of seed dispersal. Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), AKA Indian Balsam, Policeman’s Helmet, can grow up to 3m tall.It flowers from late May to October. Growing and spreading rapidly, it successfully competes with native plant species for space, light, nutrients and pollinators, and … The fruit capsules explode when ripe and touched. Its common name is “Policeman’s Helmet” due to the shape of the flowers. Carry out a survey and produce a distribution map indicating the location across the site. We offer Himalayan Balsam removal and identification for weed management across UK. Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens Glandulifera) Species Identification Height: A tall, annual herb growing up to 2.5m Stem : Hollow brittle stems which are light green/ red early in the year, turning pink/red in summer. Himalayan Balsam identification. Invasive Species Guide: Himalayan Balsam 1 | P a g e Invasive Species Guide: Giant Hogweed Photos are sourced from GBNNSS, Tom Richards and RPS group Plc. Dark green lance-shaped leaves with serrated edges and pointed tips. Hanging explosive seed pods that can throw seeds over 7 metres away from the plant. It is fast-growing and spreads quickly, invading wet habitat at the expense of other, native flowers. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 141:247-266. Policeman's helmet, also known as jewelweed or Himalayan balsam, thrives in moist areas and riparian zones. Grows up to 3 metres tall. Himalayan Balsam is, as the name suggests, native to India, more specifically to the Himalayas. The pink/purple bonnet shaped flowers are 2.5 – 4cm long. Himalayan Balsam, also called Policeman’s helmet, is native to the western Himalayas. There are 5-10 flowers on each stem and the flowers have 5 petals that are purple, pink, or white in color. Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is an exotic-looking annual that has pink, helmet-shaped flowers (also known as "policeman’s helmet”), rapid growth, and an entertaining mode of explosive seed dispersal. Himalayan Balsam. Himalayan or Indian balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is an annual herb and was introduced to Britain in 1839. 3. 2 and 5). It is an offence to plant this species or to cause it to grow in the wild. Identification of Himalayan Balsam is very important, as it is advised that if you note the presence of it in your garden, you should take steps to remove it from the site. Stems of Himalayan Balsam are pinky red, hollow, sappy, brittle and jointed. The impact of two non-natibe plant species on native flora performance: potential implications for habitat restoration. Himalayan balsam is an aggressive invader of wetlands, streams and moist woodlands where it displaces native and beneficial vegetation, causing a loss in native biodiversity. Talk to adjacent land owners Invasive Species - (Impatiens glandulifera) Watch List Himalayan Balsam grows 3-6 feet tall and has purple/red stems that are smooth and hollow. Branches arise from the stem joints. Large pale pink-purple trumpet flowers in June – October. 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