Impatiens glandulifera aka Himalayan Balsam

Impatiens glandulifera is known as Himalayan balsam. It is an annual, a plant that lives one growing season. Other names are Indian balsam and policeman’s helmet. It is part of the balsam family, Balsaminaceae. It comes from the western Himalayas, from Pakistan to Uttar Pradesh. It now grows wild in Britain, where it has become naturalised. There, it grows on riverbanks and waste ground. In its Himalayan home, it grows among shrubs and on grazing land.

The plant grows fast, reaching about 5 feet [1.5 metres] tall. It blooms from August to October. Bees pollinate the flowers. Each flower has both male and female organs. Seeds ripen from September to November, after blooms first appear. Seed pods, called capsules, burst and throw seeds some distance. Even an unripe pod may burst when touched. This makes seeds hard to gather and helps the plant spread.

It grows in sun or part shade, including light woodland. It prefers a cool spot with moist soil rich in humus. Soil that drains well suits it. It grows in heavy clay, sand and loam too. It copes with slightly acid soil and neutral soil. Slightly alkaline soil suits it too. PFAF lists USDA hardiness zones 5–9 for this plant. It also reports that the plant self-sows where winter lows stay above 5°F [−15°C]. This ease of seeding can make it a weed to control.

PFAF places it at woodland edges and in dappled shade. Its flowers feed bees that come to visit. Yet the way it spreads seeds limits its garden value. People have used seed oil as fuel for lights. The plant also has a place in Bach flower remedies. These include Rescue Remedy. This is a record of use, not proof of health benefits. The sources give no pest or disease details for this species.

PFAF lists young leaves, shoots and seeds as parts to eat. It says to cook the young leaves and shoots first. People can eat the seeds raw or get edible oil from them. The bursting pods make it hard to gather large crops. The source warns against eating large amounts regularly. It urges more care for those with some health conditions. These include kidney stones, gout, arthritis and rheumatism. The source suggests a cause for the risk, but this remains unclear. These food uses thus come with a clear warning.