* Unavailable for 2024
Sun Exposure: Sun, Part Sun
Soil Moisture: Wet, Medium-Wet, Medium
Soil Type: Sandy-Loam, Loam, Loam-Clay
Height: 4 feet
Spread: 3 feet
Blooms: July, August, September
Root: Shallow Taproot
Habitat: Moist woodlands, Lightly shaded floodplains along rivers, Edges of woodland paths, Swamps, Fens, and Roadside ditches
Landscape uses: Low area gardens, Pond edges, Unmowed wet ditches
Complimentary Plants: Monkey Flower, Helens Flower, Blue Vervain, Joe-Pye Weed
Wildlife Value: The flowers attract the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird and long-tongued bees. Birds and small mammals eat the seeds. Host Plant: Many Moth species
Seed Origin: Wasaga Beach, Ontario
Germination Code: F
Photo credits: #1 by Fritz Geller-Grimm
Impatiens capensis - Jewelweed
Jewelweed is an annual plant that completes its life cycle in one season - growing and producing many pods in one season. It self seeds readily to form small colonies if space permits. This wetland plant grows mainly in openings in moist woodlands, partially or lightly shaded floodplains along rivers, edges of woodland paths, swamps, seeps and fens, and roadside ditches. It will not do well in natural plantings or gardens that dry out during the summer months.
The Jewelweeds have a muciliginous sap that is supposed to soothe skin irritation caused by Poison Ivy and Stinging Nettle. This sap also has fungicidal properties and has been used to treat Athlete's Foot.