Balsams come in stunning shades of white, red, pink, orange, and purple. With both solid and variegated patterns, they brighten up beds, containers
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Balsam helps bring bees, butterflies, and hummingbird-like moths to your garden. The sweet nectar and bold colours make them irresistible to pollinators
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Balsam flowers are prolific self-seeders. Once you’ve planted them, they’ll likely return every year without much effort
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Unlike fussier flowers, balsams thrive in partial shade and can handle woodland or moist garden areas well. They’re ideal for spaces where other plants struggle
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Some herbalists use crushed balsam flowers in natural remedies for burns, warts, and skin inflammation. They’re also mildly antiseptic and soothing
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The downside: balsam is a self-seeding machine. You may start with a few plants, but the following year you could be pulling seedlings from all over the area
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Balsam doesn’t always stay where you plant it. The plants shade out vegetables, steal moisture, and make future planting difficult. Their fast growth can overwhelm more delicate crops
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Even if you start pulling the seedlings, they come back. You’ll need regular hand pulling and may still be dealing with them for years
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Balsam plants are prone to powdery mildew, a common fungal disease that appears as white patches on leaves. It can spread to other plants and weaken them
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Consider planting them in containers or confined garden beds. Remove the seed pods before they ripen, and don’t toss pulled plants near compost or wild areas
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