Plant · GBIF taxon 2891770
Himalayan balsam
Impatiens glanduliferaAlso known as Policeman's Helmet, Kiss-Me-On-The-Mountain, Ornamental Jewelweed
Himalayan balsam towers over native bankside vegetation, producing dense stands of hollow, reddish stems topped with slipper-shaped pink flowers. Its ripe seed capsules explode at the slightest touch, flinging seeds up to seven meters away to colonize downstream riverbanks. Rich nectar draws bees and other pollinators away from native wildflowers, altering local ecosystems along waterways.
InvasiveFloweringRiparian
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Soil Nutrients
- Water
Predators
- Balsam Rust Fungus
- Slugs
- Deer
ThreatsManual pulling, habitat clearance, rust fungus biocontrol
HabitatsRiverbanks, wetlands, damp woodlands, ditches
Life span1 year
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyBalsaminaceae
- SpeciesImpatiens glandulifera
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance, though seed pods explode when touched.
Responsible observation
- Seed Pod Caution: Touching ripe seed capsules triggers explosive discharge that propels seeds up to seven meters.
- Manual Removal: Shallow roots make pulling mature plants easy before seed pods form in late summer.
- Preventing Spread: Clean boots and gear after walking near infested banks to avoid spreading seeds.
Pollinator Marco Almbauer / CC0 · cc0
Co-Occurring Invasive (c) Valerii Darmostuk, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Valerii Darmostuk · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Eric Lamb, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Eric Lamb · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · cc-by
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