ATouch Me Not Balsam

ATouch Me Not Balsam

This is the traditional impatiens popular in old-fashioned gardens. Thomas Jefferson planted double-flowering Balsam seeds at Shadwell in 1767, and also received seeds from Philadelphia nurseryman, Bernard McMahon, in 1812. Bushy plants bloom in shades of pink, white, red, and salmon throughout the summer and fall until the first frost. Jefferson-documented: This plant was documented by Thomas Jefferson in his Garden Book, Notes on the State of Virginia, or other writings.

Balsam

Brilliant Mixture Balsam Seeds (Touch-Me-Not) 5050 Heirloom Flower. Impatiens balsamina is a charming old heirloom favourite with double and semi-double flowers carried above bushy, green foliage. This mixture contains the full colour range and once flowers start, the plants will bloom all summer. Plants enjoy moist soils and grow to 60 cm (2′) in height. Flowers are pollinated by bees and other insects. Mature flower capsules will harmlessly ‘explode’ when handled. Avoid planting where Impatiens Downey Mildew (IDM) is endemic.Impatiens noli-tangere (touch-me-not balsam; Latin impatiÄ“ns "impatient" or "not allowing", and nōlÄ« tangere "do not touch": literally "be unwilling to touch") is an annual herbaceous plant in the family Balsaminaceae found in damp places in Europe, Asia and North America. The yellow flowers are followed by pods which forcefully explode when ripe, ejecting the seeds for some distance.

Touch-me-not Balsam pods explode without warning when they’re ready to disperse their seeds. The seed pods also happen to be the Netted Carpet Moth larva’s favorite food. So what happens when this hungry caterpillar eats from a pod that’s ready to pop? This BBC clip from The Lake District: A Wild Year, narrated by Bernard Cribbins, captures their challenge.Numbers of this moth are returning thanks to a partnership of many organisations. Here in the south Lakes the National Trust ranger team has been working hard to play their part in the return of this species to many areas. By introducing cows to the favoured areas of the moth, research has shown that more aggressive plants such as Himalayan balsam are kept at bay, allowing the touch-me-not to flourish. Our rangers have also been “pulling up” invasive species such as yellow balsam to make space for touch-me-not to return. (Source: thekidshouldseethis.com)