Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis or Impatiens pallida) is a common North American wildflower, also called spotted touch-me-not or orange balsam. This annual plant is known for its unique flowers and the explosive mechanism of its seed pods, which gives rise to its “touch-me-not” moniker. Understanding where jewelweed grows requires defining the specific native habitat and environmental conditions that allow this species to flourish. The plant’s presence indicates a particular micro-environment.
Geographic Range Across North America
The native distribution of jewelweed covers a vast area primarily concentrated in the eastern and central regions of North America, extending into parts of southern Canada. This range generally stretches from the Atlantic Coast westward toward the Dakotas and south into the Gulf states. The orange-flowered species, Impatiens capensis, is the more common and widely distributed of the two native types.
The related, less common pale jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) shares a similar, slightly more northern range across the eastern half of the continent. Although the plant’s overall geographic footprint is large, its actual presence is highly localized and determined by specific habitat factors. Identifying jewelweed requires looking not just at the map, but at the immediate surroundings.
Essential Environmental Conditions
Jewelweed is an obligate wetland species, requiring consistently high moisture levels to survive. It is strongly associated with hydrophytic (water-loving) environments. These include the margins of streams, riverbanks, and the edges of bogs and marshes. It is also commonly found in disturbed, wet areas like roadside ditches and in wooded floodplains.
The soil composition tends to be rich in organic matter, often described as humusy, silty, or muddy. While it can tolerate clay soil, the medium must retain significant moisture without being stagnant. Jewelweed performs best in partial or dappled shade, typical of its preferred woodland edge habitat. If the soil remains exceptionally wet and cool, however, it can tolerate more direct sun exposure. Plants growing in full sun may reach a greater height.
Identifying Jewelweed During Different Seasons
Jewelweed is a summer annual, with its life cycle beginning with germination in the early spring. Young plants grow rapidly, and by mid-summer, they can reach heights of two to five feet. They showcase characteristic translucent, brittle stems that are often hollow. The leaves are a distinctive bluish-green color with coarsely toothed margins. They are notably hydrophobic, causing droplets of dew or rain to bead up and sparkle like small jewels, which is a possible source of the plant’s common name.
Flowering begins in mid-to-late summer and continues until the first frost. The most recognizable feature is the pendulous, trumpet-shaped flower, typically golden-orange with red-orange spots. A less common yellow variety also exists. By the fall, the plant produces elongated, green seed capsules that are extremely sensitive to touch. When ripe, these capsules burst open violently, coiling backward to explosively eject the seeds several feet away.