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- Himalayan Balsam

Himalayan Balsam

 

 

 
 
Ivor Stokes

Himalayan Balsam is another alien species that's a garden escape. It grows to quite a tall plant and can tolerate virtually any light conditions from bright light to virtually no light at all.

It's not such a problem as Knotweed because it is an annual rather than a perennial. Each year it grows from seed to flowering and then it will die within the year. However it produces lots of seeds. These fall, germinate and take over again the following year.

Sean Hathaway

 We haven't got a big problem with Himalayan Balsam in Swansea. It is a problem in other parts of the country though. It spreads very easily by seeds being caterpaulted away from the plant a couple of metres and these can flow down rivers and spread the plant very easily, so in some areas you end up with a monoculture of Himalayan Balsam and nothing else at all. It can also choke water courses.