Balsam - A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Balsams belong to an important family of plants which include the popular bedding plant, Impatiens. The plant is a native of Asia, but had been introduced into Europe by the mid-1500's and was being grown in Great Britain by the late 1500's. By the late 1700's, they had been introduced into the US. Joseph Breck, in his 1851 book, The Flower Garden, notes that the plant was also known as "Touch-me-not". He wrote, "The Double Balsam is one of the most prominent ornaments of the garden, in July and August. Old seed is considered by some to be the best, as more likely to produce double flowers. The seeds should be saved from double flowering plants only; all single
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