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Photo Credit: Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org -
Photo Credit: Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org -
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Also known as: Ornamental jewelhead, Himalayan balsam
Have you ever felt you were chasing a ghost? That’s the feeling we get when trying to identify and control policeman’s helmet. Although it’s not widespread, populations have been confirmed along creeks leading to the Tualatin River and pose a risk to streamside habitats in our watershed.
Description:
| Life Cycle: | Annual (life cycle lasts one year) |
| Early Detection and Rapid Response species: | Yes |
| Height: | Up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall |
| Stem & Leaf Description: | Its smooth stems are hollow and generally have maroon streaks – some remain green. Lance-shaped leaves have toothed edges. Leaves grow opposite along the stem or in whorlsWhorls An arrangement of leaves that radiate from a single point and wrap around the plant’s stem. of three. |
| Fruit & Flower Description: | Flowers are solitary and range from white to pink. Flowers have five petals which resemble the shape of a British policeman’s helmet. Club-shaped seed capsules form after flowers have faded. These capsules violently eject seeds when touched. |
| Bloom Time: | June to October |
Habitat:
- Policeman’s helmet prefers moist soils near the edge of streams, lakes, rivers, or riparian areasRiparian Areas Areas of land that occur along the edges of rivers, streams, lakes, and other bodies of water..
- It grows in shady to partially sunny environments but requires adequate moisture.
- It thrives near water bodies that contain excessive amounts of nutrients, usually due to runoff from yards or agricultural areas.
Impact:
- Policeman’s helmet spreads quickly. Each plant produces up to 800 seeds per year.
- It forms dense patches that displace native plants.
- When it dies back in each fall, it leaves behind bare soil which can result in erosion and reduce water quality.
What we’re doing about it:
- Policeman’s helmet is a priority species for the Tualatin SWCD. As such, our Invasive Species Program has been actively monitoring and treating it throughout the watershed.
- If identified within Washington County, a specially trained crew can come out survey for it. If found, the crew will treat the infestation for free.
What you can do about it:
- If you think you’ve found policeman’s helmet anywhere in Oregon, please report it to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline.
- Be careful not to remove plants with seed pods to avoid accidental dispersal.
- Manually removing small patches and large infestation works well. The best time to remove it is May, June, or July. All plant material should be thrown away in a plastic bag in the trash — not your yard waste bin or home compost.
- Areas where policeman’s helmet have been removed will have to be retreated several times throughout the season to keep them from regrowing.
Look-alikes:
Another invasive weed, Balfour’s balsam (Impatiens balfourii) has a similar appearance to policeman’s helmet. Balfour’s balsam grows up to 4 feet inches (1.2 meters) tall, making it much shorter than policeman’s helmet.
Noxious Weed Listing:
| State of Oregon: | Class B |
| State of Washington: | Class B |
More Resources:
Download the Policeman’s Helmet Best Management Practices Factsheet