With its pale pink to crimson flowers and a height of a good two meters, it is a pretty eye-catcher in your home garden, but it is also an occasional unwanted invader from Asia - the Indian Balsam.

The Indian Balsam sells native plants and is therefore not always welcome

Do you have to fight Indian Balsam?

On this point, opinions differ greatly. While some people think that the Indian Balsam should be eradicated as completely as possible in Europe, as it displaces native plants, beekeepers, for example, are happy that their animals can find nectar through these plants until the frost. The Indian balsam also serves as a food plant for other insects

As so often, the answer lies somewhere in the middle. In the meantime, the Indian balsam has spread very widely. If it's taking up too much space in your yard, set limits. If your garden is large enough, consider leaving a little balsam in a corner of the garden for bee pasture. The seeds are even edible for humans.

Mechanical or chemical - which control makes more sense?

Mechanical destruction is recommended for Indian Balsam. It is very easy to tear out, especially in slightly damp soil. The earlier in the year you do this job, the easier it is because the herb is still young. If it grows in a very large area, you can simply mow it down to prevent self-seeding and further spread.

Around the summer solstice, the Indian Balsam begins to grow vigorously and reaches a height of over two metres. Then tearing it out is quite a tedious job. In any case, you should remove the Indian Balsam before flowering begins in July and the seeds form. Because these remain germinable for several years. Balsam itself, on the other hand, is an annual and dies with the first frost at the latest.

The essentials in brief:

  • annual herb
  • self-seeding
  • Seeds germinate for many years
  • mechanically easy to remove
  • remove before flowering/seed formation

tips

If you have decided to destroy the Indian balsam mechanically, it is best to pull it out before the seeds form, otherwise the herb will accompany you for a few more years.

Category:

Herbs