Impatiens balsamina, commonly called garden balsam or rose balsam, is an annual flowering plant in the family Balsaminaceae. The genus name Impatiens comes from Latin im ("not") + patiens ("suffering, enduring"), referring to the explosive seed dispersal mechanism ("touch-me-not"). The species epithet balsamina comes from Late Latin balsamina, meaning "balsam-like plant," due to its aromatic and resinous qualities. Native to tropical and subtropical Asia, particularly the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and southern China, the plant was introduced to Europe in the 16th century as an ornamental and spread widely due to its showy flowers and ease of cultivation. While primarily grown as an ornamental plant, parts of it have been historically used in food and medicine. Young leaves and shoots were occasionally eaten as a leafy green in famine foods in rural Asia. Seeds have been used in some traditional preparations, but more commonly, the plant served medicinal and ritual purposes in Asian cultures rather than as a staple food.

In traditional medicine, I. balsamina has been applied as a poultice or decoction for treating skin diseases, burns, and wounds, particularly in Chinese, Korean, and Indian herbal medicine. The flowers were sometimes used to prepare natural dyes for food coloring in rural settings. Today, its culinary use is rare, but it remains important in folk medicine and as a natural pigment source.