WEEDAX Industrial & Agriculture Weed Control for Himalayan Balsam, Injurious & Invasive Weeds

A large succulent, annual introduced in 1839 to Kew Gardens as a greenhouse plant, it escaped to the wild, now naturalised in the British Isles and many other non-native countries - it is very invasive and should be removed when found. It is in the same genera as the colourful, bedding Impatiens or Busy-lizzies, but grows much taller - up to 2 metres high. Preferred sites are moist areas, usually along river banks, but it colonises many other areas. Dense stands suffocate other plants so when it dies away in the winter, river banks are left bare and more liable to erosion.

IDENTIFICATION

Himalayan Balsam

is common on river banks

has reddish coloured stems

has dark green lance shaped leaves with jagged edges

has large, brightly coloured flowers that are usually in variable shades of purplish-pink

flowers from June to October

grows up to 2m in height

each plant lasts for one year and dies at the end of the growing season

can produce around 2,500 seeds per plant each year

has explosive seed pods that throw seeds over 6m away from the original plant.

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