Family: Balsaminaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 2000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Grows in temperate and tropical climates
  
• Widely naturalized (although no evidence in Hawaiian Islands to date)
  
• Environmental weed (reduces native diversity)
  
• Other Impatiens species are invasive
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Forms dense stands that exclude other vegetation
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Annual life cycle (rapidly reaches maturity)
  
• Seeds dispersed ballistically, by water, and both intentionally and accidentally by people
  
• Prolific seed production (>5000 seeds/m2)

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Palatable to browsing/grazing animals
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Ornamental
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively
  
• Seeds rapidly lose viability (although some reports suggest viability of 18 months)
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control
  
• Not resistant to cutting, grazing, or mowing (mechanical control methods may be effective)