Impatiens glandulifera

RHS Plant Profile
Himalayan balsam

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Impatiens glandulifera?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Himalayan balsam RHS
Himalayan balsam visionspictures.com

Other common names

hardy Indian balsam, Indian balsam, jumping jack, nuns, policeman's helmet

Synonyms

Impatiens roylei

Annual Biennial

This plant is listed on Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife & Countryside Act as an invasive, non-native species and is banned from sale. See cultivation notes for further details A fast-growing annual with fleshy, upright, dark red or green stems to 2m, and bright green, narrowly oval, pointed leaves. Purplish-pink, or occasionally white, helmet-shaped flowers are produced from mid-summer to mid-autumn, followed by explosive seed pods

Position

Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
1-1.5 metres
Max Height
1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Balsaminaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Impatiens can be annuals or evergreen perennials, with fleshy stems bearing simple, toothed leaves and solitary or clustered, spurred, 5-petalled flowers
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

This plant is listed on Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife & Countryside Act as an invasive non-native species. Across the EU, UK and NI it is an offence to plant or cause to grow in the wild plants listed on Schedule 9 of this order. These plants should not be planted or caused to grow in the wild and in addition are banned from sale. Gardeners possessing them should undertake measures to control them. See himalayan balsam, and RHS advice on invasive non-native species, for further information

Propagation

Spreads rapidly by seed