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Balsaminaceae
Jewelweed
Impatiens capensis
Quick relief and joyful surprise.
- Family
- Balsaminaceae
- Genus
- Impatiens
- Native to
- eastern North America
- Bloom season
- Summer, Fall
- Type
- annual
- Height
- 60–150 cm
- Sunlight
- part shade
- Soil
- consistently moist
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- annual; self-seeds widely
- Lifespan
- annual
Did you know
- Crushed stem juice is a folk remedy for poison ivy rash and stinging nettle stings — the two often grow together.
- Water beads up on the leaves like quicksilver, hence the name 'jewelweed' for the silvery shimmer.
- Ripe seedpods burst at the lightest touch, flinging seeds several meters — earning the alternate name 'touch-me-not'.
- The orange flowers are perfectly shaped for ruby-throated hummingbirds, their main pollinator.
- It is native to eastern North America despite its scientific name 'capensis', which means 'of the Cape' — a botanical mislabeling.
Color meanings
Orange
lively woodland cheer