A warning has been issued over an ‘exploding’ plant which is spreading fast across the UK. Brits are being urged ‘do not touch’ the highly invasive plant if spotted as it can cause widespread environmental issues.

The Himalayan balsam is an attractive-looking pink plant native to the Himalayas, which was first brought into Europe in the first half of the 19th century. The herbaceous plant is now distributed across most areas of Britain and is believed to be one of the most ‘dangerous’ species.

Often called ‘touch me not balsam’, Himalayan balsam is becoming an environmental and commercial issue in many parts of the UK. Each Himalayan balsam plant produces more than 2,500 seeds which can remain viable for up to two to three years. When the seed pods mature they explode when touched, scattering the seeds as far as seven metres away.