Is Himalayan balsam illegal in the UK? What a fine could be
It may look pretty with bright pink flowers, which at first look wouldn't ring any alarm bells, however, it can lead to costly repairs if it takes over.
It's not an offence to have Himalayan balsam already growing in your garden, but it is an offence to plant it or to cause it to grow in the wild, BBC Gardeners World advises.
It is also banned from sale in the UK.
Each plant has around 800 seeds that are easily transported by wind, animals, or water, and will grow again.
The plant has spikes of showy pink or purple flowers, and fines can go up to £2,500.
Property expert Robert Quinton at Construction Megastore Building Materials says that the species can damage any local biodiversity.
He explained: 'If left unmanaged, it spreads rapidly and can overwhelm gardens and surrounding areas.
'Allowing it to encroach on your neighbour's garden could even result in legal consequences and fines, so it's important to control its growth.'
In some cases, if the plant has taken over an area, then it could affect how much your property could fetch if put on the market. Some mortgage lenders may even be reluctant to lend.
Himalayan balsam needs to be pulled out by hand or cut as low as possible before it seeds.
Mr Quinton continued: 'The most effective way to tackle Himalayan balsam is by hand-pulling or cutting it back, ideally before it starts to flower.
'When pulling it up, make sure to remove the whole plant, roots and all, to stop it from growing back.
Recommended reading:
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"In thicker patches, cutting the stems below the lowest node can also work well to keep it under control.'
The plant, which can grow to about 6ft 5in (2m) tall, blooms with pink or purple scented flowers from June to November.
Himalayan balsam was first introduced to the UK by Victorian botanists in 1839.
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