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Himalayan balsam / Indian balsam / Policeman's helmet / Jumping Jack / Jac y neidiwr / Impatiens glandulifera
Flowers June - September
| This magnificent plant, growing up to 5 feet tall, was originally a garden escape, but has long since become naturalised and is abundant all over Britain. It is most usually to be seen in strikingly colourful masses at the edge of water, but is rapidly adapting itself to drier habitats - in hedgerows, for example. The ripe seed pods explode when touched and scatter the seeds far and wide, hence both the Latin name and the name 'jumping jack'. Being a highly successful species, it has inevitably fallen foul of the conservationists, who call it a 'foreign invader' and urge people to destroy it. DON'T ! |
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