I think it's an impatiens. I don't know which one.

It looks related to jewel weed which grows here in midwest native but has orange or yellow flowers.

Years ago we saw similarly colored ones with larger blooms and
solid darker color in the Soviet Union. Serpokov, our sister
city. They grew freely, bloomed in mid-late September, and
were about 3-4 feet tall.

Chris N.

It's an Impatiens. I believe Impatiens balfourii. Not native to Europe. In fact an alien invasive.

Here is a link that might be useful: Impatiens balfourii

Wow, Flora and Chris! You are good. That is it! So sad it is invasive. I will read up to see if it would be invasive here in the mid-Atlantic area. I loved the way it looked in southern France.

Thanks so much!
Cynthia

seeds like crazy. seed pods burst and fling the seeds quite a ways. It is so easy to get rid of the seedlings if they are somewhere they are not welcome. :-)

It may have looked pretty in France but, as I said, it is an invasive alien there, as in several other areas of Europe.

Chris N do you think it was Impatiens glandulifera you saw in the Soviet Union? It is invasive and a major pest here in the UK.

Here is a link that might be useful: Himalayan Balsam

Definitely looks like Impatiens balfourii...and yes...it reseeds like crazy...but the seedlings aren't too hard to uproot when they're small...and they are quite lovely. I had one plant last year (that I let go to see) and this year, as you can see below...I had hundreds!

That looks beautiful scottyboipdx! I am going to try to find one in the spring. I have a spot where I can keep it contained and especially if seedlings are easy to pull. The ones I saw in France were not at all out of control or looking as if they were taking over or unwanted.

Thanks all for your responses.

Scotty, that's amazing! I LOVE It!! What month was that pic?

Hope these Impatiens aren't susceptible to that mildew disease ruining the "regular" ones.

Hi Purpleinopp...I'd have to double-check to be sure...but I think it was August...they collapsed as soon as our rains returned an pummeled them to the ground! I didn't see any evidence of disease...and they were actually super-tough...I barely watered them, but they did famously in about 1/2 day of sun.

That's cool. I really like those!