Flower profile
Himalayan balsam
Impatiens glandulifera
Himalayan balsam is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In Maine it's most often seen in bloom in July–October.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Maine
Quick look
Impatiens glandulifera, Himalayan balsam, is a large annual plant native to the Himalayas. Via human introduction it is now present across much of the Northern Hemisphere and is considered an invasive species in many areas. Uprooting or cutting the plants is an effective means of control.
- It belongs to the Balsaminaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 11 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to Maine. NatureServe
- In Maine, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–October. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,243 research-grade sightings of it in Maine, ranking #51 among the 110 flowers on our Maine list. iNaturalist
State flower gift ideas
This one is a regulated invasive plant, so here are state flower gifts instead.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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State flower print
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Birth-flower necklace
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Wildflower seed favors
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Botanical tea towel
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Pressed-flower frame
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Flower-garden mug
When does it bloom?
In Maine, most flowering sightings come in July–October.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- Maine
- Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Maine. Maine rare plant list
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
ASPCA's entry “Buzzy Lizzie” (Impatiens spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating lots of any plant can still upset a pet's stomach. ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records himalayan balsam in 11 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
California, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington.
Maine counties with USDA records: Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Waldo, Washington.
More Maine flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile IMGL.
- iNaturalist, Impatiens glandulifera: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Impatiens glandulifera (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Maine: Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories.
- Maine: Maine Do Not Sell invasive plant list (01-001 C.M.R. ch. 273).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Impatiens glandulifera (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: Christine Young via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.