Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glanulifera) is an attractive looking flower, with a stout, hollow stem, trumpet shaped pink/white flowers and elliptical shaped green leaves. November 2013 I chorttle watching the "eco" groups pulling it out, churning up all that soil into bare earth, totally unaware that they are creating the perfect environment for another "invasion" next year. A native of the Western Himalaya, it was introduced in 1839 and is now recorded throughout Britain. The fact of the matter is that it's very well adapted to our climate, it's edible and it grows only where the ecosystem has been disturbed by human influence. In addition, it contains calcium oxalate, which is harmful in volume in its raw state. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. V.demoralizing. It has an explosive seed capsule, which scatters seeds over a distance of up to 7m. Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is an invasive terrestrial plant species that was first introduced as an ornamental garden plant and is spread exclusively by seed.Since it was introduced, it has spread to most parts of Ireland. Himalayan balsam is an invasive species and was introduced in the mid-19th century as a garden ornamental. Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is a relative of the busy Lizzie, but reaches well over head height, and is a major weed problem, especially on riverbanks and waste land, but can also invade gardens. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Ornamental jewelweed refers to its cultivation as an ornamental plant.. Brian Morland, the Bellflask Ecological Survey Team, East Tanfield, Ripon, Get involved with the news in your community, This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. Himalayan Balsam has an orchid shaped flower resembling a British policeman’s helmet, which gave rise to its other common name of “Policeman’s helmet”. Himalayan balsam, a relative of the busy Lizzie, was introduced to Britain as a garden plant in the 19th century. A true pink gin. in fact the stems and leaves breakdown very rapidly and produce a great fibre for the soil. Himalayan balsam tolerates low light levels and also shades out other vegetation, so gradually impoverishing habitats by killing off other plants. Chemical control Users must be aware of the risks involved when using chemicals to control any plant especially as it tends to grows near water. Suzy Peters. June 2013 Himalayan balsam: controlling it on your land, file type: PDF, file size: 3 MB . I was told they called them Imperial Busy Lizzies & I was asked to water them regularly. just when a useful to bees and humans plant comes along nature decides that it's ideal for some bug that the blue tits would like. Himalyan Balsam is doing just that in some areas, particularly river banks. There is no obligation to eradicate this species from land or to report its presence to anyone. Etymology. The insects in turn attract predators like dragonflies, and warbler species such as whitethroat, willow warbler and chiffchaff. ( 2009 ) indicated that under high levels of shade, nitrogen levels are likely to be lower than in more open areas. Thanks for the info. Himalayan Balsam is a saving grace for honey bees and other insects in the North West. Naturally humans on the whole don't think that far ahead though. I dont spend thousands a year wailing and nashings teeth worrying about what in some peoples eyes are invasive species, Britains full of them, I had a Himalayan Honeysuckle appear 4 yrs ago, its now 12 feet tall and full of beautiful racemes of flowers and berries, The postman hates it but the blackbirds love the berries, the postman lost. Strangely I've just sent off for some quinoa seed and there are slight similarities. February 2014 October 2012 Himalayan Balsam was added to schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in Wales and England. I have now messaged a few beekeeper forums asking this same question. It's also worth pointing out that as climate change continues many of these invasive "weeds" may be the plants that we are going to need in the future. Can this be the same invasive weed? The flowers of Himalayan balsam are attractive to bees which has the potential to bias bees to collect nectar from the balsam rather than from native species, thus reducing native plant pollination. To fight Himalayan balsam, plants must be chopped down, or pulled up as they come into flower in June or July. during the extreme wet spring of 2013 they were a godsend to the bumble bees and we counted 6 different species that were taking advantage of them, then of course they got blackfly and all kinds of other parasitic flies etc. However, it is extremely important to exert caution as even the slightest contact with the plant can result in … so far this year 'end of march 2014' I've seen at least fifty queen bumblers and about a dozen honeybees in my garden, so we have done something right last year. Its a massive & unnecessary problem for us too. If the Himalayan Balsam is near a water-course the use of chemical control may be impossible. What should not be allowed are the counties of oilseed. Populations My flower border is full of flowers, roses included. Himalayan balsam is an aggressive invader of wetlands, streams and moist woodlands where it displaces native and beneficial vegetation, causing a loss in native biodiversity. I HAVE managed several miles of the River Ure between West Tanfield and Ripon for 50 years. HP10 9TY | 01676637 | Registered in England & Wales. Puccinia komarovii var. Yorkshire Dales rivers have always eroded their banks, and they always will. The riverbank would be much poorer ecologically without balsam. January 2015 Like most essential oils, balsam essential oil has … In all the years I've grown them they have never spread to my neighbours gardens. August 2012 April 2012 Himalayan balsam: controlling it on your land, file type: PDF, file size: 3 MB . I challenge its opponents to name one plant or animal that has disappeared in all those years because of it. If you see balsam please pull it out, or at the very least don't plant it; you don't know where its hundreds of seeds will end up... Balsam seeds can be transported on shoes and tires as well as the more traditional route where the seed bursts on a river bank & is transported by water. Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens Glandulifera) is a relative of the “busy lizzy” but reaches well over head height and is a major weed problem.It is native to the western Himalayas and in the early 1800’s was introduced to many parts of Europe as a garden ornamental, it has since become an invasive plant as it grows rapidly and spreads quickly, smothering other vegetation as it goes. Is this the same plant? It is the tallest annual plant (completes its life cycle in one year) in Ireland growing up to 3m high. Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is known to many people as an attractive plant with a familiar sweet scent, and a reputation for being a good nectar source for bees. July 2013 This lack of a root system is one of our main reasons for wanting to remove it. The plant produces a large amount of nectar which may result in less pollination of native species by bumblebees and a subsequent loss of biodiversity. Whilst I agree that invasive plant species should be controlled, having lost 98% of our native wildflower meadows and thousands of miles of hedgerow, there isn't a great deal of forage available for pollinating insects - a major factor in their decline. Please do not sow seeds of Himalayan Balsam, its incredibly invasive and will smother out native plants! Himalayan Balsam is a saving grace for honey bees and other insects in the North West. But I'm worried, There's some darned bug that is munching the heck out of it! The species has the ability to regrow from the lowest node in the same season therefore control efforts need to remove the We’ll be working with groups and volunteers to undertake much of our Himalayan balsam removal work. According to Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offense in England and Wales to allow Himalayan Balsam … May 2013 Legislated Because. Close all around them are Asian poppies (beautiful Gold) cornflowers Gallardia, Potentillas and clover. Nothing is struggling and I never water them. It is vehemently hated by some and actively persecuted by others. . Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is a very attractive but problematic plant, especially in the British Isles. I can't believe my neighbour, who always bought from a seed catalogue, would have ever planted these seeds. This is what causes erosion – not Himalayan Balsam. The names Himalayan Balsam and Kiss-me-on-the-Mountain came into being because the plant is from the Himalayan Mountains. It prefers moist soils but will grow anywhere. I would like to see more done to provide alternative food sources for our pollinating insects when nectar-rich non-native plants are destroyed. It is the tallest annual plant (completes its life cycle in one year) in Ireland growing up to 3m high. The common names policeman's helmet, bobby tops, copper tops, and gnome's hatstand all originate from the flowers being decidedly hat-shaped.Himalayan balsam and kiss-me-on-the-mountain arise from the plant originating in the Himalayan mountains. Commonly found along riverbanks and streams, around ponds and lakes, in wet woodlands and in ditches and damp meadows. Due to Himalayan Balsam’s preference for habitats near water, this limits herbicide selection to products approved for use near water and the operatives applying it must be trained to PA6Aw level. We balsam bash before the plant flowers to prevent seeding, but once it flowers, the seeds will develop even if you pull it up. I live in central France. May 2012 August 2014 April 2014 The Himalayan Balsam is a very adaptable survivor, to the rear of my border in amongst the Atlantic Delpiniums, (which I've removed the flower stems from as they are over and done with,) there are maybe a hundred HB's, but they are only max 18 inches tall and single stemmed, yet over in the wet ground with the montbretia (now there's a plant you cant get rid of) and the various flavours of mints and aqualigia they are over six foot tall but their stem is only and inch diameter. Himalayan balsam is an introduced annual naturalised along riverbanks and ditches. So if ever a plant needs banning it's the oilseed not the Balsam which is a fantastic source of nectar for you, me and the bees, just when it's needed. In the UK armies of volunteers spend thousands of hours destroying this weed. My 'specimen' HB's have a trunk of over three inches diameter and have many branches and are approx 4 feet tall. As a group we must have destroyed thousands & yet we only found one plant that the native insects had colonized & were hopefully having a good munch on. In December 2015, I was on the Ure’s flood bank at 3am with the river at my feet. But also concerned about people planting balsam. Himalayan Balsam gin tastes much like pink gin but somehow more ‘botanical’. January 2013 There are a number of campaigns by local environmental groups to clear it, but it is a losing battle. It has a preference for wet feet though - so it likes to grow near riversides etc. The plant is extremely fast growing & once it gains a foothold it wipes out all of the other species attempting to grow there & the area becomes a complete balsam monoculture. Just be mindful that you don’t accidentally transport seeds to your garden!! Himalayan balsam is Britain’s tallest annual plant with each plant tending to be around 1-2 metres high, although they can reach a height of 2.5 metres in some cases! It self-sows vigorously, and takes over any area where it seeds, driving out native plants. The native insects do not yet have a taste for balsam & so the plant has few predators to keep it in check. March 2013 Now we have human intervention on a massive scale transferring plants (and sometimes insects) around the globe, and finding that new, incomer species, can wipe out the unique local habitat with its hundreds of species that took so many thousands of years to evolve, in a very short time. That's the standard opinion on most things nowadays and just about everything from a football club losing a match to the price of carrots is put down to global warming. Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is a very attractive but problematic plant, especially in the British Isles. Nature is our best defense against flooding & without it we will be spending millions on new flood defenses/homes destroyed. March 2012, All Erosion is caused by the velocity of the river in spate. 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