Jewelweed Impatiens capensis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- im-PAY-shuns ka-PEN-sis
- Description
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Jewelweed is a herbaceous annual that may grow 3 to 5 feet tall. It can be naturally found in areas of moist soil including forests, streambanks, and bogs. The stem is somewhat translucent. The leaves are alternate with a toothed margin and partly fuzzy underside. Orange and yellow flowers with darker splotches mature in early fall. The herb produces a capsule that pops open at maturity dispersing the seeds.
Garden uses include moist shade or woodland gardens, bog gardens, native plant gardens, pond or stream margins and in low spots.
Dew or rain beads up on the leaves forming sparkling droplets that give rise to the common name of jewelweed.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Seasons of Interest:
Blooms: Fall Nut/Fruit/Seed: Fall
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: This plant can prolifically self-seed.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Impatiens
- Species:
- capensis
- Family:
- Balsaminaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern America
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Its flowers are attractive to Ruby Throated hummingbirds in the late summer and fall. Flowers provide nectar to pollinators from June until the first frost.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer and resistant to fire in the landscape.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Flowers give way to slender seed capsules which when ripe explosively split open at a touch dispersing the tiny seeds within in all directions, hence the common name of touch-me-not.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Jewelweed features 1" long, rear-spurred, cornucopia-shaped, orange to orange-yellow flowers with reddish-brown spotting. The flowers bloom from June to frost. Each flower dangles from a leaf axil on its own slender stalk. The flower has three sepals with the lower one extended backward as a spur. Each has five petals of unequal size and five stamens. The pistil is composed of five united carpels.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Jewelweed has oval, coarsely-toothed, bluish-green leaves (to 3.5" long). The leaves are alternate with thin elliptic to egg-shaped leaves with coarsely toothed margins. The underside of the leaves are partly fuzzy. The leaves are 1.5-3.5 inches long. Native Americans used the watery plant juices to relieve itching associated with poison ivy, stinging nettle, and insect bites
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Fire
- Wet Soil
