Impatiens parviflora

The small balsam, which is native to Central Asia, was introduced to the botanical garden at Kaisaniemi in the 1850s, from where it began to spread immediately. Today, it grows in parks in southern and central Finland and as an escapee in herb-rich forests, for example. Preferring shady and rich habitats, it thrives particularly well under bushes in parks, along the sides of paths and under cliffs. In many cases, small balsam grows as a garden escapee close to human residences, particularly in sites where garden waste has been deposited. It has also spread alongside ornamental plant soil and has been deliberately sown. It can also be transported by water.