Himalayan Balsam

An annual invasive plant of wet ditches, riverbanks and damp woodlands, especially on the banks of streams or perimeter ditches to golf course and playing fields, being up to 2-m in height. The 5 whitish-pink petals appear as 3 petals because 2 x 2 are fused with one is unfused, with flowering taking place between July and October. The stems are reddish or with reddish tinges, whilst the leaf edges have fine teeth being attached as pairs or whorls of 3 to a stem. Its scientific name is Impatiens glandulifera and also has the common name of Indian Balsam.