Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is a tall annual invasive plant that has become widespread across the UK, particularly along watercourses, on waste ground and in damp habitats. It is a Schedule 9 species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
As an annual, Himalayan balsam is more straightforward to control than rhizomatous species like Japanese knotweed — but control must be carried out before seed set each year, consistently over multiple seasons, to achieve lasting suppression.
Where we work
We carry out Himalayan balsam control programmes on development land, riverbanks, public open space and commercial land. Control typically combines physical pulling and herbicide treatment, carried out between May and July depending on location and growth stage.