The Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) comes from India and the Himalayas but also grows well in Estonia. It is one of the most invasive plant species in Europe, which is why it must be eradicated across Europe.
The annual plant spreads quickly and can grow up to three metres tall. Due to its stunning appearance, tall height and large and beautiful pinkish purple blossoms it is very common in gardens. Unfortunately the Himalayan balsam grows in large and dense colonies, driving out all other species. For that reason, it is forbidden to cultivate the species even in your private garden.
In addition to the Himalayan balsam, the touch-me-not balsam (a domestic species with a large yellow blossom and delicate leaves and stem) and small balsam (an alien species with a tiny yellow blossom, small height) grow in Estonia but they never form thickets as big as the Himalayan balsam.
It’s a highly invasive species, the habitat of which has vastly increased in Estonia over the past 13 years. For this reason, a management plan for the Himalayan balsam was drawn up and approved in 2018.
As of today, the Himalayan balsam management plan does not provide for state-commissioned eradication as for alien hogweed species. The priority is raising awareness among the public and landowners and encouraging eradication carried out with different forms of cooperation. Currently, eradication is carried out in the form of communal work by the Estonian Fund for Nature (in Karula National Park), in cooperation with local governments and probation supervision departments as part of community service (Kohila, Pärnu, Viljandi) and experimental weedings organised by the Estonian Environmental Board.
We gladly welcome any initiative from landowners, local people and companies to hinder the spread of the Himalayan balsam in Estonia! Notify the Environmental Board of a Himalayan balsam growth location by e-mailing [email protected].
The Himalayan balsam is a very resilient plant species but very easy to eradicate with some persistency. Main points to remember:
- the plant’s roots are superficial and come out of soil easily. Carefully weed out all plants. The stem tends to break easily, so make sure to pull out the roots. If possible, you may also continuously mow the plot but in such case the grass must be kept short;
- do not throw the weeded plants on the ground because they will root again very quickly. Hang them up or throw them somewhere to dry. In case of a large number of plants, put them all in the same huge pile;
- the species grows, blossoms and produces fruit until the first night frosts. This means you should weed them out repeatedly throughout the season;
- when weeding an area, pay attention to the edges and avoid missing any plants there. This way the habitat will not expand.
- the plants must be weeded out for at least two consecutive years as this is how long the seeds remain germinable in the soil.
Verev lemmmaltsa välislingid
Last updated: 12.04.2024