Irish wildflowers

Himalayan Balsam, Impatiens glandulifera, Lus na pléisce
Photographs: Co. Cork

Himalayan Balsam / Indian Balsam
Impatiens glandulifera
Lus na pléisce
Family: Balsaminaceae

Flowering July-October. Annual. Garden escape. Introduced.

Flowers are purple-pink or pinkish-white with short spurs. Seeds freely. Oval-lanceolate pointed, toothed leaves, opposite or in whorls of 3. Fleshy, hairless reddish-green stems, sappy. Height to 1.5 metres.

Shady riversides, damp wasteland and road edges. A naturalised and very invasive introduction. Increasing.

Himalayan Balsam, Impatiens glandulifera, Lus na pléisce

Himalayan Balsam, Impatiens glandulifera, Lus na pléisce
Himalayan Balsam, Impatiens glandulifera, Lus na pléisce

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