Himalayan Balsam / Spring / Summer / Edible

Common Names

Himalayan Balsam, Indian Balsam, Bobby Tops, Copper Tops, Gnome’s Hatstand, Ornamental Jewelweed, Policeman’s Helmet, Kiss-me-on-the-Mountain

Botanical Name

Impatiens glandulifera

Scientific Classification

Kingdom – Plantae

Order –Rosales

Family – Rosaeae

Physical Characteristics for Himalayan Balsam

Himalayan Balsam is an incredibly invasive species that is often found spreading up riverside edges, however, it’s also a brilliant edible and has edible, leaves, shoots flower & seeds.

Leaves

The Leaves are lanceolate with serrated edges and reddish veins running through it.

Stems

Tall stems reaching up to 2m in height. The stalk is has a reddish tinge.

Flowers

The flowers are pink and shaped like helmets

Seeds

The seed pods explode when gently touched.

Habitat

Most commonly found along waterways, but can grow away from water. It was introduced to the UK in 1839 as a garden plant

Known Hazards 

This plant is a non-native invasive and eradication programmes are in place in many parts of the UK. Some people have displayed allergies to Himalayan Balsam’s pollen.

Could be Confused with

 The Plant is very distinctive, so it would be difficult to confuse with other species. There’s potential if you just had the flowers and nothing else on the plant you could confuse it with Foxgloves (Digitalis Purpurea), however foxglove leaves are hairy which balsam are not.

Edible Uses

The seedings, young shoots, leaves, flowers and seeds are all edible. The seeds give a nice crunch and texture to salads, while the flowers and young shoots can be made into jams.

The hollow stalks can be used as a straw.

When harvesting the seeds, carefully place a carrier bag over the tops of the plants and close the neck of the bag with your hand. This action alone should be enough to cause the seed heads to explode and catch all the seeds. Remember to tip the bag right way up before removing your hand.

Notes on Herbal uses

The flowers have cooling properties, and the leaves have been used to soothe burns.  The seeds are diuretic, and the root juice treats hematuria (blood in the urine).

Extra notes from the Foragers

Notes below from:

Curtis Wright
Administrative Officer
Pilot NNS Inspectorate
National Wildlife Management Centre (NWMC)
Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA)
Telephone: 07920516559
Address: York Biotech Campus, APHA, National Wildlife Management Centre (NWMC), Room 12G35, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ

The transportation of seeds or whole plants is an offence under the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 in England and Wales and Section 14AA of the Wildlife and Countryside Act in Scotland. This means that no seeds or plants should be removed from the site where they currently grow, and sowing seeds or planting elsewhere either deliberately or accidentally would be a particularly serious offence.

Find out more on the APHA here

Impatiens is from the Latin for impatient, referring to how the seed pods burst open. Glandulifera means to have flowers with glands