Balfour’s Balsam (Impatiens balfourii)

Also known as: Balfour’s touch-me-not, poor man’s orchid, Kashmir balsam

Balfour’s balsam is commonly planted in gardens as an ornamental. Its pretty flowers and easy maintenance make it a popular plant for shady, wet areas. However, it can quickly escape gardens and infest wetlands throughout the watershed.

Description:

Habitat:

• Balfour’s balsam is commonly found in forest understory, riparian areasAreas that are directly adjacent to flowing streams, creeks, or rivers., wetlands, and grasslands.
• It prefers shady areas with damp to wet soil conditions.

Impact:

• Balfour’s balsam can quickly colonize riparian areas, outcompeting native plants for light, nutrients, soil, and space.
• The shallow root system does not hold soil intact and can cause erosion along stream banks and rivers.

What you can do about it:

• If you think you’ve found Balfour’s balsam in Washington County, please report it to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline.
• Hand pulling small patches of Balfour’s balsam is an effective way to treat it. This is best done in the spring before it forms flowers and seeds pods. Make sure to throw away any plant material in a plastic bag in the trash—not your yard waste bin or home compost.

Look-alikes:

Balfour’s balsam is often confused with a couple of other invasive weeds, policeman’s helmet (Impatiens glandulifera) and spotted jewelweed (Impatiens capensis). The way to distinguish these species is by closely examining their flowers. Spotted jewelweeds flowers are orange, not pinkish purple like Balfour’s balsam. When in bloom, policeman’s helmet has a small spur behind it’s petals, while Balfour’s balsam has a long, straight spur.

Noxious Weed Listing:

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