Himalayan Balsam

This little (big actually – Ed.) blighter is spreading along the banks of the river. Impatiens Glandulifera is a non-native invasive annual plant growing up to 2.5 m high in a single season (from seed to weed – Ed). Notice the generic name of Impatiens? Yes it is related to Busy Lizzie (not David’s wife – Ed.). It suddenly seems to appear and the flowering months are July to October.

Plantlife.org.uk says of it amongst other things “It can grow to over 2m tall and its rapid spread means it forms dense thickets, potentially shading out native species. Each plant produces about 2,500 seeds whilst an impressive trigger mechanism can fling seeds a considerable distance from the parent plant, with several parent plants together, seeds can occur at a density of between 5000-6000 seeds per square metre.”.

The flowers are very startling from a distance and in close up is very pretty and intricate,

Introduced in 1839, it was first cultivated as a greenhouse annual by gardeners. 

Local names include Nuns and Jumping Jack, as well as Policeman’s Helmet, Bobby Tops and Gnome’s Hatstand which refer to the fact that the flower is decidedly hat-shaped. Himalayan Balsam and Kiss-me-on-the-mountain arise from the fact that the plant originates in the Himalayan mountains. 

The genus name Impatiens, means “impatient”, and refers to its method of seed dispersal. The species name glandulifera comes from the Latin words glandismeaning ‘gland’, and ferre meaning ‘to bear’, referring to plant bearing glands.

Interestingly balsam is defined as “an aromatic and usually oily and resinous substance flowing from various plants”. Used for healing wounds.