Colonising rail and river banks, wastelands and woodlands, Himalayan balsam was introduced to the British Isles in 1839 by
Victorian plant hunters
who were keen on its beautiful pink flowers and exploding seed pods. The plant has had plenty of time to establish in the UK and, over the last 50 years, has spread rapidly.
Who discovered Himalayan balsam?
Colonising rail and river banks, wastelands and woodlands, Himalayan balsam was introduced to the British Isles in 1839 by
Victorian plant hunters
who were keen on its beautiful pink flowers and exploding seed pods. The plant has had plenty of time to establish in the UK and, over the last 50 years, has spread rapidly.
When was Himalayan balsam introduced?
Introduced in
1839
, it was first cultivated as a greenhouse annual by gardeners.
How was the Himalayan balsam introduced?
Himalayan balsam is an invasive herbaceous plant that was initially introduced to North America
as a garden ornamental
. When seed capsules mature and dry, they will explode when touched, shooting seeds in all directions! Himalayan balsam flowers have a hooded shape that looks similar to a policeman's helmet.
Where does Himalayan balsam come from?
As its name suggests, Himalayan balsam is from
the Himalayas
and was introduced here in 1839. It now an invasive weed of riverbanks and ditches, where it prevents native species from growing.
Is Himalayan Balsam illegal?
It is illegal to plant or allow Himalayan Balsam to grow in the wild
and is listed under Schedule 9 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. If you have Himalayan Balsam growing in your garden, you must control it in order that it does not spread.
What kills Himalayan Balsam?
Himalayan balsam can be controlled by spraying the foliage with
glyphosate
. The plants should be sprayed in the spring before flowering but late enough to ensure that germinating seedlings have grown up sufficiently to be adequately covered by the spray. Glyphosate is sold under a number of brand names.
How bad is Himalayan balsam?
Q5: Why is Himalayan balsam a problem? Himalayan Balsam is one of the UK's most fastest-spreading invasive weeds today. It
starves native plants from sunlight and mineral
, leaving riverbanks more susceptible to erosion.
Is Himalayan balsam harmful?
Hazards Himalayan Balsam contains high amounts of minerals, so should not be consumed in great quantities. In addition, it contains calcium oxalate, which
is harmful in volume in its raw state
.
Can you remove Himalayan Balsam?
The most effective method of controlling Himalayan balsam is
cutting and hand pulling
. If you're getting rid of Himalayan balsam plants by hand, let the cut plants lie on the ground in the sun for a few days to dry out and die before composting them.
Why is Himalayan balsam so invasive?
Himalayan Balsam is an annual plant which means that
it dies back in winter
, leaving riverbanks bear with no roots holding the soil together, leading to erosion and siltation of our rivers.
Is Himalayan balsam a pest?
Himalayan balsam, a relative of the busy Lizzie, was introduced into the UK by the Victorians in the early 19th century as an ornamental garden plant. … It
is considered a threat because it smothers vegetation and out-competes native plants
. It also adds to risk of flooding by clogging waterways.
Can Himalayan balsam be used for anything?
The
young leaves are best for salads
, the older leaves can be used in soups and stews. The seeds can be collected by placing a bag over as many seed pods as possible and shaking. The flowers can be used in salads.
How long do Himalayan balsam seeds last?
The seeds can remain viable for
up to 2 years
but Himalayan balsam does not form a persistent seedbank in soil. The seedpods are dehiscent and explode when touched or shaken. The seeds are expelled up to 7 m from the parent plant. The seed is transported by water but can also be carried in mud by animals and man.
What problems does the Himalayan balsam cause?
Impacts of Himalayan Balsam
Produces about 800 seeds per plant, which are released from capsules once they are disturbed or dry out. An annual species that can aggressively replace native perennial plants along river banks, leading
to soil erosion
.
Do you need to report Himalayan Balsam?
Himalayan Balsam is not a notifiable weed.
SEPA/ The Environment Agency does not have an obligation to control it
.
