Impatiens balfourii
Kashmir balsam, Kashmir Balsam
(c) zebedeugalinha, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Balsaminaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Impatiens balfourii (Kashmir balsam) is a non-native California herb in the Balsaminaceae family, recognized by flower color range and straight spur with gradual taper.
Kashmir balsam is a naturalized perennial found in northern California Coast, southern San Francisco Bay, and northeastern Santa Catalina Island on shores and streambanks at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces white, pink, and purple flowers with occasional yellow marks, arranged in small clusters of up to 8 blooms. Growing 50 to 100 centimeters tall with alternate leaves, it has lanceolate to wide-ovate leaf blades that are sharply serrated and 2 to 13 centimeters long. Its leaves feature distinctive gland-like stipules less than 1 millimeter wide, dome-shaped and unlobed. The plant produces club-shaped fruits and is characterized by flowers with a straight 10 to 20 millimeter spur that tapers gradually.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by flower color range and straight spur with gradual taper
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shores, streambanks
Elevation: < 1000 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Sutter, Marin, Santa Cruz, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara
Outside California: Oregon, native to Himalaya Mountains
Bloom period
Impatiens balfourii blooms Apr-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Catharanthus: Impatiens has spurred flowers and exploding capsules; periwinkle has flat 5-petaled flowers and non-explosive fruits.; vs Pelargonium: Impatiens has a hollow backward spur; geranium has fused stamens and long-beaked fruits.; vs Rosa: Impatiens has irregular spurred flowers; roses have regular 5-petaled flowers.; vs Begonia: Impatiens has symmetrical leaves and spurred flowers; begonia has asymmetric leaves and spurless flowers.; vs Bougainvillea: Impatiens has spurred petaled flowers; bougainvillea has tiny flowers surrounded by colorful bracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Impatiens balfourii native to California?
No. Impatiens balfourii is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Impatiens balfourii bloom?
Impatiens balfourii blooms Apr-Sep.
Where in California does Impatiens balfourii grow?
Impatiens balfourii occurs in San Bernardino, Sutter, Marin, Santa Cruz, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara, at elevations of < 1000 m.
What plant family does Impatiens balfourii belong to?
Impatiens balfourii is in the Balsaminaceae family, genus Impatiens.
What habitat does Impatiens balfourii grow in?
Impatiens balfourii grows in Shores, streambanks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.