Author Topic: Anyone know what this flower/weed is? (Read 5637 times)

Bionic · « **on:** July 23, 2012, 10:47:29 am »

Its very pretty and seems to like the damp
Sally

LulaB · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2012, 11:11:49 am »

That looks horribly like Himalayan Balsam to me. Invasive and a pig, if I'm right.

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=96

Try not to let it spread and best of luck!

Fleecewife · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2012, 11:16:57 am »

Yes, it's Himalayan Balsam. It spreads by pinging its seeds a long way in every direction, so don't let those pretty flowers set their seeds

. Very invasive.

Bionic · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2012, 11:18:07 am »

Thanks both of you. Luckily I only have a few stalks at the far end of the pond. Better get pulling them up though.
Sally

Hermit · « **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2012, 11:21:07 am »

Isnt Himalayan balsam sometimes called Snapdragon as if you touch the pods when they are ripe they snap open firing their seeds all over? Smells nice as well.

fairhaven · « **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2012, 06:32:07 pm »

Hi
I only looked at this topic from curiosity, But we have that poxy plant everywhere in our garden!! We only moved in last year & it was badly overgrown and I thought it was quite pretty & the kids loved the pinging seeds.... So we left it... Big mistake,

All this year I have been pulling them up but they are still growing all over - It's a nightmare!!

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #6 on:** July 23, 2012, 06:41:02 pm »

Yup, that's Himalayan Balsam. Pretty as a picture and as invasive as they come. If you pull them before they seed and burn them before they seed you should be able to stop them spreading like wildfire.

fairhaven · « **Reply #7 on:** August 04, 2012, 04:56:36 pm »

Hi All

In an attempt to be resourceful I have been busy harvesting the flowers from the himalayan balsam that is all over the garden, It has dried very well & kept it's colour (Purple, Pink & White) and I'm going to use it as a filler in pot pourri to sell....

And once it has dried properly it doesn't even smell like cat pee anymore

jaykay · « **Reply #8 on:** August 04, 2012, 05:43:23 pm »

The pods are very amusing and it's quite pretty but it spreads

so sadly the sensible thing to do is to glyphosate it $:-\$

YorkshireLass · « **Reply #9 on:** August 04, 2012, 06:54:23 pm »

Glyphosate not necessary if you've time to pull (before flowering/seeding sadly!). Hang the stalks up in a tree or hedge, they dry to a crisp and then won't root - if you leave the stems in a pile on the ground they can re-root where they touch the soil.

Bert · « **Reply #10 on:** August 05, 2012, 09:19:03 am »

I second what YorkshirLass said . It pulls up very easily . I know unfortunately I have spent days and day pulling it up. When we started to get board we would make mazes through it