The Policeman’s Helmet (Impatiens glandulifera) is an annual flowering plant in the Balsaminaceae family. It is also known as the Himalayan Balsam, Bobby Tops, and Kiss-Me-On-The-Mountain.
It is native to the Himalayan region.
It grows to 100-200 centimetres (39-79 inches) tall with a soft green or red-tinged stem.
Its leaves are 5-23 centimetres (2-9 inches) long.
It has green seed pods.
The flowers are pink with a hooded shape, 3 centimetres (one inch) tall and 2 centimetres (three-quarters of an inch) broad. The flower shape is like an English policeman’s helmet.
It blooms between June and October in the Northern Hemisphere.
Photographed in Claude Monet’s Garden, Giverny, France, September 2021.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
MARTINA NICOLLS