IN THIS GUIDE
Himalayan Balsam is very robust and pretty , but it is just as unsuitable .
Of montane origin , this tough yearly quickly grows to overhead height .
It bears a richness ofunusual and undeniably lovely bright pink flowersthat are arrange off by light green foliage on a well - fork contour .
Unfortunately , it is an aggressive alien species that is extremely encroaching throughout Europe .
About Himalayan Balsam
Himalayan Balsam , formally known asImpatiens glandulifera , is a very pretty and strange flowering plant originate in the Kashmiri Himalayas north of Pakistan and India.1Himalayan balsam . ( n.d . ) . The Wildlife Trusts . Retrieved March 17 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/himalayan-balsam
regrettably , it is an belligerent species that can outcompete aboriginal ones and becomes encroaching in temperate , tundra and standardised climatic zone .
Though it is an one-year , it is vigorous and propagates exceptionally efficiently , as its nectar draws drove of bees which , in routine , cross - pollinate the flowers very effectively .
It also produce equally copious total of seeds , which are propagate by seedpod explosion ( ballochory ) .
A large number of come are then disperse around each fledged flora , so it is little wonderment that Himalayan Balsam steadily colonises expert - sized swath of the ground by forming monoculture thickets .
This coinage itself does not take much sunshine , but because of its own top and its survival strategy of shape dense coppice , it lust other shorter native metal money of much - needed sun , gradually extinguish them .
It is also immaterial to the dirt , growing in poor as well as fat soils , and light as well as heavy dirt , with about adequate quickness .
Identifying Himalayan Balsam
It is not for nothing that Himalayan Balsam is often called ‘ Policeman ’s Helmet ’ , as the flower ’s shape really does land to mind a bobby ’s hat , except for the fact that its gloss motley from pale pink through to T. H. White .
This rare flower is somewhat like a flared tube with two flaps .
The flowers are borne on raceme and come about in profuseness in the summertime and autumn on a tall , well - branched shrub that reaches up to 2 - 3 m tall .
The flowers emit a strong , sickly - seraphic scent .
If you see such a flowering flora and further notice that it has clear , shining green leave-taking that are elongate and lancelike with visible veining and are borne on stems that have a reddish tone , it is very probable Himalayan Balsam .
You would encounter Himalayan Balsam on riverbank , alongside watercourses , near rubbish tip and in waste ground .
It also grows on forest and timber edges , in fields and hayfield and around ditch .
Is Himalayan Balsam Invasive?
Yes .
In fact , it has been flagged by the United Kingdom ’s Department for Environment , Food & Rural Affairs and the Animal and Plant Health Agency since second August 2017 as a non - native invasive industrial plant metal money in England and Wales.2Himalayan balsam . ( n.d.-b ) . Public Information on Invasive Species in Wales . retrieve March 17 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2022-03/himalayan-balsam-public-information-controlling-invasive-species-wales.pdf
It also appear in the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species which remains applicable to the United Kingdom.3Invasive alien species . ( n.d . ) . European Commission : Environment . retrieve March 17 , 2023 , fromhttps://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/invasive-alien-species_en
effort to halt its cattle farm are afoot in several realm of the country and it is often referred to as a weed .
“ The classification of Himalayan Balsam as an invasive non - native plant coinage means it must not be planted in the furious and if identified on a homeowner ’s land it must be stopped from disperse to neighbouring kingdom , ” shares Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly.4How to kibosh trespassing non - native industrial plant from circularise . ( 2022 , February 2 ) . GOV.UK . find June 13 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-the-spread-of-harmful-invasive-and-non-native-plants#:~:text=Types%20of%20invasive%20non%2Dnative%20plants,-The%20most%20commonly&text=Giant%20hogweed,New%20Zealand%20pygmyweed
How Do These Plants Disperse Their Seeds?
They disperse their seeds by a rather striking method of source capsule explosion name ballochory.5Seed dissemination : 5 way trees spread seeds . ( 2019 , August 23 ) . Woodland Trust . Retrieved March 17 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/08/seed-dispersal/
The pretty flowers develop into seedpod or capsule in fall .
Over meter , as wet from a capsule evaporates , it save deforming and eventually explode noisily , dissipate its seed nearby and even up to 7 m metres away .
Drying capsules can also explode if they are physically disturbed , sometimes merely refer , by wildlife .
Unfortunately , these guileful colonisers also have a junior-grade method acting of seed dissemination !
As name , Himalayan Balsam plant are fond of grow by riverbanks and watercourses .
When such riverine fellow member ’ seedpods explode , many seeds fall into the waterway and the flowing water then carries the seeds far and wide .
The seeds that are later deposited on the land then grow into Modern plants a enceinte length from the original .
This method acting of seminal fluid dispersal is known as hydrochory.6Craft , C. ( 2016 ) . Hydrochory . Science Direct , 3–22.https://doi.org/10.1016 / b978 - 0 - 12 - 407232 - 9.00001 - 4
How To Control Himalayan Balsam
From a professional and scientific standpoint , Himalayan Balsam is best controlled systemically by reducing the nutrient - richness of riparian areas and the ground around those waterways that have been infest by this invasive plant .
Doing so give aboriginal species a better chance to contend .
Some local plants are able to gut it out in poorer soils a little estimable than Himalayan Balsam , whereas the latter positively wave in rich soils near waterways .
In the United Kingdom , various regional preservation brass schedule balsam bashing events , usually in June.7The Big Balsam Bash 2022 . ( 2022 , April 14 ) . Groundwork . Retrieved March 17 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.groundwork.org.uk/bigbalsambash2022/
A group of volunteers walk through areas known to be colonised by the industrial plant , uprooting , cut and otherwise put down its sales booth .
Out in the open , strimming is also used and it too is an efficacious method of control .
It is maybe the most efficient method to allot with dense brushwood before the plants have started to place seed .
Plants should be ignore off at the base of the stem .
As an case-by-case nurseryman , your best bets are to uproot the plants and use particular kinds of weed killer .
Both the RHS and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology commend uprooting and cutting as the primary methods of effectual control.8Himalayan Balsam . ( n.d . ) . Peak District : Gov. Retrieved March 17 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/48016/himalayan_balsam_control.pdf
The downside to cutting any part of the plant is that if this is done above the first node on the stem , especially before June , nothing will be attain , as the plant life ’s strong theme will ensure its natural selection .
All that will happen is that the plant will become shaggy .
Pulling up these plants , sooner as ahead of time as possible in the time of year , is a proficient method of control condition than cutting it .
If you pull them up after they have started forming seed capsule , see out for accidental seed dispersion !
Lay the uprooted plants on formative flat solid .
I. glanduliferacan also be controlled by chemic mean .
Use contact weedkillers on them before they form source capsules , remembering that the earlier this is done , the better .
late botanic research has uncovered a very effective and targeted biologic control for Himalayan Balsam , a rust fungus namedPuccinia komaroviivar.glanduliferae.9Tanner , R. , Ellison , C. , Kassai - Jáger , G. , Varia , S. , Djeddour , S. , Singh , M. , Csiszár , Á. , Csontos , P. , Kiss , L. , & Evans , H. C. ( 2015 ) . Puccinia komarovii var . glanduliferae var . nov . : a fungal broker for the biological control of Himalayan balsam ( Impatiens glandulifera).European Journal of Plant Pathology,141(2 ) , 247–266.https://doi.org/10.1007 / s10658 - 014 - 0539 - Adam
This is a Himalayan rust fungus fungus that infects and kills Himalayan Balsam with cheeseparing - total specificity .
It has been bring out and even try and was subsequently found to snipe a few other Balsam impatiens , though it does not affect Western ornamental impatiens , the popular bedding plants .
Research is on-going to identify and isolate a strain of this rust fungus that will be specific entirely toI. glandulifera .
Plant Disposal
BurningI. glanduliferais an effective method of halt its bed cover and destroying it , but sting plants and plant material is subject to more or less differing regulations in England and Wales , Scotland , and Northern Ireland .
Generally , you are required to apprize appropriate local authorities in advancement of burn flora material , ensure that the burning at the stake does not stimulate contamination or pain and that only white smoke , not grim , is produced .
I ’d suggest that before burning any industrial plant stuff , you acquaint yourself with the local rule and regularisation by paying a visit to the website of your territory council or environmental situation .
Composting Himalayan Balsam
You might be able to compost your Himalayan Balsam reckon on the stage of the plant ’s lifecycle .
As it is an yearly , there is nothing to dread from its roots and you could just let them dry out out in the sunlight .
The vexation is that its seedpods and seminal fluid may get into the compost batch .
The knotty seeds may well germinate in the compost or wait until the compost is used , as come are viable for around 18 - 24 months .
Either way , a compost of this kind would alleviate the banquet of this invading flora .
Keeping these fact in head , you may compost Himalayan Balsam at any stage of its lifecycle up until the time that buds have started to blossom .
If any flower of a plant have withered , do not compost them .
You never jazz if you will be adding seedpods and seeds to your compost .
you’re able to seek for seedpods and off them or compost only the leaf , but that would barely be deserving the time and effort .
Considering how aggressive and invasive the plant is and the problems that are being faced in try on to limit its cattle ranch , I ’d indicate that you toy it dependable and avoid composting Himalayan Balsam .
Also , be aware that many localities prohibit the dumping of this and other similar plants into rubbish skips .
