Kashmir Balsam/ Balfour’s touch-me-not (Impatiens balfourii)
Family: Balsaminaceae
Life form: Herbaceous Perennial
History & Introduction
Native to the Himalayas, this species of impatiens was first introduced to Southern Europe as a horticultural plant in the early 1900s. From there it was brought over to the United States, where it became a favorite in the San Francisco Bay Area. It has since been found behaving invasively throughout several states, most notably Minnesota, Oregon and Wisconsin.
It has been found growing outside of cultivation in several places within the LIISMA region, documented through reports on iNaturalist. Its extent in LIISMA is currently unknown.
Due to its bright pink and asymmetrical flower, it has been also referred to as ‘poor man’s orchid.’
Identification & Biology
It can easily colonize wetlands, marshes and grasslands, upland forests, river edges and roadsides, especially those that are relatively disturbed. It has also been found as a weed in pastures and plantations.
- Habit: Herbaceous perennial growing from 1 to 2.5 ft tall
- Leaves: Alternately arranged along the stem. Individual leaves are simple, oval to lance-shaped, toothed, with stalked leaves up to 1.6 in long
- Stem: Hairless, slightly red colored, very branched.
- Flowers: Petals are fused together at the base, with a whitish upper petal and two lower petals that are pink-purple in color. Flowers are found in racemes each with 4-8 flowers
- Fruits: Slender pods that burst open when touched, similar to native Impatiens species,
- Roots: Shallow fibrous
Damage & Concern
Kashmir balsam can reproduce rapidly by seed, using its exploding seed capsules to spread the seeds at the slightest touch from humans to forest animals to drops of water or strong wind. It is also shade tolerant and unpalatable to deer, making understories that are already prone to disturbance with high deer pressure especially vulnerable to this invasive. This plant can grow in habitats similar to those favored by our native impatiens species, which Kashmir balsam may directly compete with. In an invasive species assessment done by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, they found the species to spread rapidly over the course of 1-3 years, with a noticeable effect on the community structures where it had been introduced.
Management
Wisconsin land managers have found some success with yearly pulling, cutting, or mowing for small infestations. This should be done while the plants are in flower, before they have gone to seed to prevent accidental seed dispersal. However, this approach takes several years to be effective, and for larger patches may be unfeasible. Treatment using herbicides such as glyphosate have not been found to be as effective, and often be a challenge to secure permits as plants are often found in or around wetlands.
Avoid planting kashmir balsam, and opt to plant our native jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) instead.
If you come across this species, please map it using iNaturalist or iMapInvasives, or email us at invasive@liisma.org.
