Identifying Himalayan balsam

Himalayan balsam:

  • is common on river banks
  • has reddish coloured stems
  • has dark green lance shaped leaves with jagged edges
  • has large, brightly coloured flowers that are usually in variable shades of purplish-pink
  • flowers from June to October
  • grows up to 2m in height
  • each plant lasts for one year and dies at the end of the growing season
  • can produce around 2,500 seeds per plant each year
  • has explosive seed pods that throw seeds over 6m away from the original plant.

In this guideline: