Himalayan Balsam North Fife

Himalayan Balsam on the roadside to Newburgh, a wee stand that has only just become evident, happens to be in a spot that was disturbed by council workers 18 months ago doing some drainage. Possibly the same crew that cleared a pathway down by the riverside, where there are masses, as part of the Fife Coastal Path, seeds maybe carried on their shoes or equipment.

Himalayan Balsam, Impatiens glandulifera, is a large annual plant, native to the Himalayas (resulting in its colloquial name of kiss-me-on-the-mountain in the UK), it is sometimes cultivated for its flowers. It is now widely established in other parts of the world (such as the British Isles and the United States), in some cases becoming an invasive species weed. The aggressive seed dispersal, coupled with high nectar production which attracts pollinaters, often allows the Himalayan Balsam to outcompete native plants. In the UK, some local wildlife trusts organise "balsam bashing" events to help control the plant