Spotted Jewelweed

Spotted Jewelweed

Spotted Jewelweed

 

Spotted Jewelweed, a.k.a. Touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis) is a July-October blooming plant. Jewelweed is an annual that is also called “Touch-me-not” because its pods will fling out seeds upon contact. Hummingbirds are quite attracted to the orange-flowered Spotted Jewelweed, but not as much to the yellow form,  Impatiens pallida, which prefers alkaline soils. Jewelweed grows well in moist soil, and prefers partial to full shade. Blooms last from mid-summer till frost, and are Orange with reddish-brown spots, That same characteristic of exploding seed pods enable this plant to take over your garden as it re-seeds where it is happy. Fortunately it is very easy to pluck the undesirable strays from the soil. An important nectar source in the wild and a great hummingbird magnet in the garden.