Impatiens edgeworthii

Impatiens edgeworthii belongs to the balsam family, Balsaminaceae. It is an annual: it lives for one growing season. Its native range runs from northern Pakistan to Nepal. Records also place it in parts of northern India. These include Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttar Pradesh. Kew places it in a temperate climate. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In Srinagar, it grows in gaps in the forest. There, it grows near drains and ditches. Records span heights of about 5,580–7,220 feet [1,700–2,200 metres].

The plant grows about 2 feet [0.6 metres] tall. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects move pollen between the flowers. The fruit forms a seed case called a capsule. This case bursts open with force as the seeds ripen. It throws the seeds away from the plant. Touch can make it burst before the seeds fully ripen. This makes seeds hard to gather. Even cases that do not seem ready may burst.

In gardens, use moist soil that drains well. A cool, shaded spot suits the plant. The soil should have plenty of humus, or decayed plant matter. It also grows in light shade or with no shade. It can grow in sand, loam, or heavy clay. The soil can be slightly acid, neutral, or slightly alkaline. These needs suit a spot at a woodland edge. PFAF lists both sunny edges and shaded woodland sites. In the wild, it also grows near local drains.

Plants can sow their own seeds where winter lows stay above 5°F [−15°C]. This means new plants grow from seed. It does not mean adult plants live through winter. PFAF does not flag this plant as a weed. For planned garden use, sow seed under glass in spring. Move young plants into their own pots when large enough to handle. Plant them outdoors in summer. When you gather seed to sow later, take care. The seed cases can burst when you touch them.

PFAF gives this species no food or medicinal use rating. It notes seed oil but does not say how people use it. Its entry on food use is unclear. It does not show that the plant is safe to eat. The source warns against eating large amounts of the plant. Yet part of its proposed reason draws on another species. This does not prove this species has a specific toxin. The supplied evidence gives no pest or disease facts for this species.