plant ID help, please

[perseph]

What is this plant?  My neighbor gave it to me last year, but I'm not 100% positive if it is the exact same plant or if it is another which grew from a seed from that one.  I think it's the same one though.   She doesn't know what it is called, but says she has a friend who claims it is a weed.  Still, neat plant, even if it is.

Comments

[mactavish]

I've always called it "that plant with the pods that explode in your hand," but I don't think that's an official name.

[perseph]

But wouldn't it be great if it was the official name? So descriptive, lol.

Reply below lead me to finding out that it is Himalayan Balsam, which is a variety of impatiens.

[mactavish]

In that case, it's the only impatiens I love, and weedy or not, I'd put it in my yard.

[mmegaera]

Maybe some kind of impatiens? Although I have to say I've never seen one with flowers like that before. But the exploding seed pods sure sounds like impatiens.

[perseph]

Oh wow, good call. I had no idea impatiens could be big, I've only seen the little ten-inch or so tall ones. So I went "huh," in response to your post, then to the wikipedia page to find out more, and right there on the right is a video of my plant showing a seed pod exploding! It's called Himalayan Balsam.

[mmegaera]

Hee! I love it when a plan comes together. Or something [g].

Good for you.

[liminalia]

There are many species of impatiens, the one native to my area gets 3-5 feet tall. So, you were right. :)

[coritiacus]

Himalayan Balsam. It's growing wild around the river here.

[cabd]

Isn't it a Himalayan balsam? Beuatiful but MASSIVELY invasive. Causes all sorts of harm to river banks.

[fleuriee]

urk, I spent the whole of last summer trying to clear local riverbanks of that stuff so native plants could come back, it is pretty though :)