You may have seen Himalayan Balsam when walking along the banks of the River Dee or the River Don. The species has the ability to regrow from the lowest node in the same season therefore control efforts need to remove the Elderflower cordial: made in the spring, stored in the fridge, then decanted into small sterilised bottles Home-made sloe gin: made in the autumn and then decanted into (larger!) The threat of the Himalayan Balsam has been compared to that of Japanese Knotweed, another invasive plant the spread of which has so far proved virtually impossible to control. Unfortunately, this species is extremely invasive in moist, shaded environments, and is now swiftly spreading through the watercourses of the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. A pint glass full of your favourite wild edible flowers with all the green bit removed or for a really floral drink, two pint glasses. Its exploding seed pods allow the plant to rapidly spread into nearly impregnable thickets that reach over 3-meters-tall, smothering all other plant life to death. Himalayan Balsam regrows annually from the seeds which are viable for 2 years therefore any control efforts must be carried out before the seed pods are produced for maximum effect. 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. It escaped into the wild and is now recorded throughout the UK, particularly along the banks of watercourses. There was a time when the plant was marketed as a novelty attraction for children, under the name ” Mr. Noisy’s Exploding Plant”, and despite its now known invasive tendencies people still love popping those pods every chance they get. In the early 19th century, they were brought to the British Isles to be planted in gardens, and before long they escaped into the wild, where they continue to cause a number of serious problems. Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is an introduced summer annual that has naturalised in the UK, mainly along riverbanks and ditches. Commonly found along riverbanks and streams, around ponds and lakes, in wet woodlands and in ditches and damp meadows. Like other balsam flowers, the plant reproduces by seed, and it will put out up to 800 of them every year. Himalayan balsam (Inpatiens glandulifera) is a large annually growing plant that is native to the Himalayan mountains. This nettle cordial recipe, from the book ‘The Eatweeds Cookbook’ by Robin Harford is delicious and the perfect way to introduce kids to nettles as a wild food. Himalayan balsam plants are native to Asia. Appearance Impatiens glandulifera is a succulent annual than can be 3-10 ft. (0.9-3 m) tall. Land managers often give up when faced with controlling Himalayan balsam over a large area due to… The Stunning Twin Temples Atop China's Holy Mount Fanjing, Mother Unable to Pay Rent After 6-Year-Old Son Spends $16,000 on Mobile Video Game, Origami Housing - Foldable Tiny House Can Be Moved and Installed in Just 3 Hours, Woman Attracted to Inanimate Objects Marries Briefcase Named Gideon, This Fairytale Castle Is Actually a Four-Star Hotel in China, The Himalayan Balsam – An Invasive Flower That Spreads by Explosion. By foraging for this free food you can help your budget and the environment. • It was introduced as an ornamental plant in the early nineteenth century. The explosion of the Himalayan balsam’s fruit capsule can fire seeds up to seven metres. It was introduced to Kew Gardens in 1839 and is thought to have mainly been spread by people passing seeds to each other. Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is a very attractive but problematic plant, especially in the British Isles. 3 MB. In its native range it is usually found in altitudes between 2000–2500 m above sea level, although it has been reported in up to 4000 m above sea level. If you’re getting rid of Himalayan balsam plants by hand, let the cut plants lie on the ground in the sun for a few days to dry out and die before composting them. However, humans have played a pretty big part in its successful colonization of the world. The stems are purple tinged, hollow and hexagonally angled. Himalayan Balsam can very quickly be identified through the cluster of purple/pink, helmet-shaped flowers it produces. It successfully competes with native plant species for space, light, nutrients and pollinators, and excludes other plant growth, thereby reducing native biodiversity. • It is listed under schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 – it is an offence to plant or cause this species to grow in the wild. It prefers moist soils but will grow pretty much anywhere. Himalayan balsam is the tallest annual plant in Europe; each stem can be 2.5 metres tall. • Himalayan balsam is an annual plant with bright purple-pink flowers. Leaves are lanceolate to lance-ovate with acuminate tips. If you use assistive technology please tell us what this is. Today, many communities around the world are struggling to keep the plant in check, organizing seasonal “bashing” sessions to clear large swathes of land. //-->. If you need a more accessible version of this document please email [email protected]. e9 = new Object(); It’s important to time your Himalayan balsam control so you don’t inadvertently spread more seeds. Please tell us the format you need. sterilised bottles Tree cookies: thin slices of sustainably-harvested branches, to make discs of 5-10cm diameter, and decorated with permanent pens or a pyrography pen. The Himalayan Balsam was introduced in the UK in 1839 as a greenhouse and garden plant, but it only took a few decades for it to escape into the wild. “In the winter it dies back and leaves bare soil, so then you’ve got a risk of soil erosion and it can contribute to flash flooding.”. To fight Himalayan balsam, plants must be chopped down, or pulled up as they come into flower in June or July. Himalayan balsam is a tall growing annual, 2-3m (6-10ft) in height. The plant is an annual, so if caught early it quickly vanishes. It has been blamed for natural disasters such as landslides and altering the flow of rivers, which leads to flooding. The main issue with this plant is that it’s very aggressive, muscling out native plants until it’s the only one left. To combat the effects of Himalayan Balsam on the environment, conservationists regularly organize clearing parties to uproot the plant from particularly sensitive areas. Herbicides also work but only as a last resort. Since it was introduced, it has spread to most parts of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It was introduced to the UK in 1839 and is now a … The Balsam has these beautiful purple flowers that people love so much that they historically spread seeds in the wild just so they could see them on the sides of roads. This leaves the river banks vulnerable to serious erosion. Himalayan balsam ( Impatiens glandulifera) is a very attractive but problematic plant, especially in the British Isles. Habitat Description: Himalayan Balsam grows in moist and semi-shaded damp places including waste ground, and thin woodlands. It is locally c… It grows in dense stands and can be up to 2m tall. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is known to many people as an attractive plant with a familiar sweet scent, and a reputation for being a good nectar source for bees. You see, this isn’t just another invasive weed, it’s a very attractive one. When ripe, the seed pods of the Himalayan Balsam will explode at the slightest of stimuli. Himalayan balsam is an attractive, non-native invasive terrestrial plant species. A native of the Western Himalaya, it was introduced in 1839 to Kew Gardens as a greenhouse exotic. . It is vehemently hated by some and actively persecuted by others. It is also commonly referred to as Indian Balsam. Impatiens glandulifera, commonly known as the Himalayan Balsam, is an invasive plant with a very peculiar colonizing system – its seed pods literally explode when touched or otherwise disturbed, shooting the seeds up to 7 meters in every direction. Plants can grow up to 3m tall, making this the tallest annual species growing wild in the UK. Because it is so tall, it will often shade out shorter native plants. Due to human introduction, it has now spread across much of the Northern Hemisphere. “The problem with it is that it creates quite vast stands which compete with our native flora,” Emma Harrington, of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, told the BBC. Related. Himalayan Balsam is an annual plant and produces colourful flowers. This plant is the least harmful of our three main invasive species. However, despite the plant being valued for these reasons, Himalayan Balsam is actually … Apart from its attractive flowers, the exploding seed pods made it uniquely appealing. Dependent on local climate, Himalayan balsam flowers between July and October. However, it does have some redeeming features and whilst I can understand the reasons for it being much despised I feel somebody has to speak up in support of this controversial but defenceless and, even though invidious of me to say it, invaluable plant! After flowering it produces seeds for the following year and when touched the seed pod bursts and sends the seeds flying in all directions. The problem is that such actions need careful planning, as if the pods are ripe, the slightest touch can cause them to pop, shooting fresh seeds everywhere and keeping the cycle going. These seeds can travel a short distance through the air or miles and miles if they get caught up in a river or stream. The more seeds we eat, the fewer seeds there will remain to spread this plant. Granted, it’s an oddly satisfying experience. While it comes from Asia, it has spread into other habitats, where it pushes out native plants and can wreak serious havoc on the environment. Himalayan Balsam is a tasty plant commonly eaten as curry in its native Northern India. Every plant has dozens of pods which contain an average of 800 seeds, so a thicket of  Himalayan Balsam can contain up to 30,000 of these tiny bullets just waiting to take root. Himalayan Balsam is an annual plant and produces colourful flowers. and protect other plant life. Wild Summer flower cordial and Pine needle cordial. Himalayan Balsam - Free food. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! A native of India and Pakistan, the Himalayan Balsam has managed to invade 23 European countries, as well as the United States, Canada and even New Zealand. Growing and spreading rapidly, it successfully competes with native plant species for space, light, nutrients and pollinators, and … Simply touching them with your finger, dangling the plant stem or even walking past them can cause the pods to pop, launching the seeds meters away in every direction. Between June and October it produces clusters of purplish pink (or rarely white) helmet-shaped flowers. The most effective method of controlling Himalayan balsam is cutting and hand pulling. Himalayan Balsam is, as the name suggests, native to India, more specifically to the Himalayas. Himalayan balsam is an annual, however, and it dies back in the winter, leaving bare spaces that would normally be inhabited by native grasses. Sign up for our newsletter. Written by. Controlling Himalayan balsam is a two part endeavor – removing existing plants and preventing the spread of seed. The tall, pretty pink flower spikes of rosebay willowherb ( Chamaenerion angustifolium ) are a common sight on railway banks and disturbed woodland. It is a useful nectar source for pollinators but self-seeds readily making it a troublesome garden weed. Often nicknamed the Police Helmet plant, Himalayan Balsam can grow up between 1 … It commonly grows along linear corridors which facilitate its spread such as rivers or disused railway lines. It is important that this plant is controlled and not allowed to produce seeds that will be next year’s plant. (red clover, elderflower, dandelion, sow thistle, wild rose petals, rosebay willow herb, Himalayan balsam are all good choices) 1 sliced lemon 2 tsp of citric acid (OR the juice of a lemon) 1.5 kg/3 lbs of sugar Himalayan balsam is native to the Himalayas, specifically to the areas between Kashmir and Uttarakhand. Keep reading to learn more about how to control Himalayan balsam plants. Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) has rapidly become one of the UK’s most invasive weed species, colonising river banks, waste ground and damp woodlands. . It should not be planted, and Himalayan balsam control should be implemented if you find it on your property. Himalayan Balsam is a common weed familiar to everybody. Interestingly, the plant’s Latin name, Impatiens glandulifera, speaks of its impatience to spread far and wide, using a fascinating evolutionary mechanism. How to Make a Magical Himalayan Balsam Gin • Craft Invaders The plant is attracted to damp areas like river banks, where it grows in clusters that can reach 10 feet (3 m.) in height. While it comes from Asia, it has spread into other habitats, where it pushes out native plants and can wreak serious havoc on the environment. Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glanulifera) is an attractive looking flower, with a stout, hollow stem, trumpet shaped pink/white flowers and elliptical shaped green leaves. 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It flowers predominantly in July and August and is particularly prevalent either side of the Brig o Dee, the Persley Bridge , the Diamond Bridge, along Seaton Park and at Donmouth. The Himalayan Balsam was introduced in the UK in 1839 as a greenhouse and garden plant, but it only took a few decades for it to escape into the wild. Himalayan balsam: controlling it on your land, file type: PDF, file size: 3 MB . That’s particularly problematic on riverbeds, where it leaves vast swaths of land exposed to harsh winters as well as erosion. If you liked this story, like & follow us on Facebook for more. Traditional control methods are currently inadequate in controlling Himalayan balsam in the UK. 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. The flowers are followed by seed pods that open explosively when ripe. It has an explosive seed capsule, which scatters seeds over a distance of up to 7m. 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”. This cordial is perfect for introducing nettles to the family as a food stuff, another great example is our easy stinging nettle crisps. Foliage The foliage is opposite or whorled. This shows how easily this invasive species to the UK, spreads its seeds away from the plant . https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/ The species is particularly frequent along the banks of watercourses, where it often forms continuous stands. The best time is early to mid-summer, before the seeds have matured. e9.snackbar = true;