Impatiens capensis aka Jewelweed

Impatiens capensis is an annual wildflower in the balsam family. Common names include jewelweed and spotted touch-me-not. It grows wild across much of Canada and the United States. Its native range includes northern, central, and eastern states. It grows beside streams, in bogs, and in damp woods. People have introduced it to Europe and other regions. Water beads on its leaves, which explains the name jewelweed.

Plants reach 2–5 feet (0.61–1.52 metres) in height. They spread about 1–3 feet (0.30–0.91 metres) across. The upright stems branch and hold much water. They look pale green or reddish-green and break with ease. Their smooth skin can appear partly clear. Thin, oval leaves grow in an alternate pattern. Their edges have teeth, and their colour is blue-green or grey-green. The leaves lack hairs and have a dull surface.

Orange or yellow-orange flowers bear dark red-brown spots. Each bloom hangs from a slender stalk near a leaf. The pouch-shaped flowers have a long spur at the back. Most accounts place bloom from June through September. North Carolina State also gives July through October. Bees and hummingbirds visit the flowers for nectar. Green seed capsules follow the blooms. Ripe pods burst when touched and fling their seeds outward. Pheasants and quail eat the seeds, while deer browse leaves.

Grow jewelweed in partial shade or full shade. It does best in damp, humus-rich soil. It also tolerates wet ground, clay, and deep shade. Sources list USDA zones 2–11 for this annual. It suits woodland gardens, bog gardens, and pond edges. It also fits rain gardens and damp low spots. Plants return through seed and can form dense colonies. Most gardens see few major pest or disease problems. North Carolina State lists southern blight and southern bacterial wilt. It also reports noxious-weed status in Washington, where plants displace natives.

Treat food and medicinal uses with care. Plants For A Future lists seeds and cooked young stems as edible. It also lists cooked young leaves and shoots. The plant contains calcium oxalate, and large servings can harm health. North Carolina State warns that eating the fruit can upset the stomach. Its page also flags risks for cats and dogs. Indigenous people used the sap for itchy skin and stings. These records describe past uses, not proof of safe treatment. The plant has also supplied yellow dye.