Pretty flowers in the park

[Babyitscoldouts1de]

Hi, anyone know what these are? Tgey were pretty and lots by the lake.

Himilayan balsam - you really don't want it at home! It spreads like wildfire through watercourses...

The seed heads are great though - they explode when you touch them and make you jump...which is why they spread like wildfire.

The seed heads are edible if they are young...if you are really really in need of something to add to your curry.

I'm sure you're not allowed to sell them in the UK. THeyre an absolute menace and ruin biodiversity along river banks.

It's Himalayan balsam (aka Impatiens glandulifera), a non-native weed which has become seriously invasive and is threatening our native flora.

So not something to plant in your garden. If you gently squeeze the ripe seed pods between your fingers they sort of wriggle and explode sending seeds everywhere.

Yes, they spread a lot. First you think they're nice but if you get them everywhere... it's not so nice anymore. Pretty invasive.

I thought the flowers looked similar to snap dragons. Ok, so avoid like the plague from everyone means I will definitely be following the advice. My small garden doesn't have a watercourse, so sounds like it wouldn't be invading just yet.

No, it spreads on watercourses as the seeds fly everywhere and then the water takes them downstream...if you put one in your garden you would forever be pulling them up after one season as they would fly out everywhere.

Step away from the Himilayan Balsam!