Jewelweed is the common name for two native North American species, Impatiens capensis and Impatiens pallida, also known as Touch-Me-Not plants. These annual herbs thrive in moist environments across the eastern and northern parts of the continent. Identifying them requires careful observation of their structure, flowers, and unique seed dispersal mechanism.
Key Features of the Plant
The plants grow two to five feet tall and are characterized by smooth, somewhat brittle stems. The stems are notably succulent and nearly translucent, often appearing pale green to reddish-green as they mature. This watery, fragile structure helps differentiate Jewelweed from many other wetland plants.
The leaves are oval or elliptical, arranged alternately along the main stem, and can be up to five inches long. They have a characteristic bluish-green hue and coarsely serrated or scalloped margins. The plant gets its name from the way water interacts with the leaf surface. Due to the leaves being non-wettable, dew or rain beads up into sparkling droplets that look like tiny jewels. If submerged, a thin layer of air is trapped against the surface, causing the leaf to shimmer with a silvery sheen.
The Unique Flowers and Seed Pods
Jewelweed produces distinctive, trumpet-shaped flowers that hang from the leaf axils in small clusters. The two species are most easily distinguished by color. Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) has orange or orange-yellow flowers typically marked with red-orange spots. Pale Jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) displays pale yellow flowers without spots. Both types feature a prominent, curled nectar spur extending from the back of the bloom.
The flowers develop into elongated, small green capsules containing the seeds. Once the capsule is ripe, it builds internal tension. It will explosively coil and split open at the slightest touch, flinging the seeds several feet away from the parent plant. This sudden scattering action is the origin of the common name “Touch-Me-Not.”
Where Jewelweed Thrives
Jewelweed flourishes in environments where the soil remains consistently moist and shaded. It is frequently found growing in dense patches along stream banks, in low-lying woodlands, in floodplains, and in drainage ditches. This preference for water-rich areas is a strong clue to its identity.
Its native range covers most of northern and eastern North America, generally extending westward to the Great Plains. While both species prefer moist conditions, Pale Jewelweed (I. pallida) can sometimes be found in slightly drier or more alkaline soils compared to the Spotted Jewelweed (I. capensis).
Common Misidentifications
The two native Jewelweed species, Impatiens capensis and Impatiens pallida, are often confused. Flower color is the most obvious differentiator, but when flowers are absent, examine the foliage closely. Leaves of I. pallida tend to be larger and have more pronounced color contrast, often with lighter veins and margins compared to the more uniformly green leaves of I. capensis.
Confusion can arise with various ornamental Impatiens varieties, which typically have smaller, less complex flowers. To rule out these look-alikes, examine the stem. Garden varieties generally lack the pronounced translucent, watery, and succulent stem that characterizes native Jewelweed. If the plant is flowering, the unique hanging, trumpet shape with a curled spur is specific to the native species and not shared by many other common wetland herbs.