An invasive plant, Impatiens glandulifera, also known as ornamental jewelweed, is blooming in Harpswell now. It stands about six feet tall, with sturdy, hollow stems that are reddish-green in color. The pink flowers are very noticeable, and may vary from white to pinkish-purple in groups of three. This plant prefers moist soils, and may be growing in ditches along the roadway.

Ornamental Jewelweed, aka Himalayan balsam, touch-me-not

Now is the time to tackle this invasive plant. It pulls easily, so try to get it out while it is in flower. Bag the pulled plants, and dispose of them in the invasive plant disposal area at the Harpswell transfer station (“over the hill”). If the flowers go to seed, each plant will produce about 800 seeds, and you will see a bumper crop next year! This plant has great survival skills: it will re-sprout if cut, and may also re-flower!

Another purple flower commonly seen along the roadways is purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Its flower spikes are 1-2 feet tall, ranging in color from white to magenta along the vertical stem. It has long, narrow leaves on a stem that is squared like most plants in the mint family. Each plant can produce up to 2.5 million seeds a year!!

Purple Loosestrife

To tackle this invasive plant, pull or dig the entire plant in early spring. Now, as loosestrife flowers, cut, bag and dispose of the flowers before they set seeds. You will need to do this again for the next few years, as there are still seeds waiting to germinate from previous summers.

Harpswell Garden Club has been a member of the Harpswell Invasive Plant Partnership since 2015. We have contributed to the continuing efforts to control invasive plants throughout Harpswell. For more information on the HIPP efforts, contact Hipp.maine@gmail.com or visit their website hippmaine.org