Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Yellow
Jewelweed
(Pale Touch-Me-Not)
Impatiens pallida
[C-value
6]
Touch-Me-Not family (Balsaminaceae)
Blooms July - mid-September
The native Yellow Jewelweed is uncommon in our area. It prefers partial sun, wet to moist conditions, and soil that is loamy or mucky. Habitats include muddy borders along ponds and streams in wooded areas, swamps, fens, and openings in moist deciduous woodlands. This is a charming summer annual with smooth, almost translucent stems, 2-4' tall, with alternate, pale green, oval leaves up to 4" long and 2" across and coarsely toothed on slender petioles up to 2" long. From the axils of the upper leaves, there occurs short raceme of 1-3 yellow flowers. Each flower is about 1" long in a conical shape with upper and lower lip petals. The upper lip curves upward, while the 2 lower petals form landing pads for visiting insects. Each flower dangles from a slender pedicel about ¾" long.
Yellow Jewelweed at Lyon Forest Preserve fen September 14, 2014
Yellow Jewelweed at Harris Forest Preserve pond July 12, 2015
Yellow Jewelweed foliage at Harris Forest Preserve pond August 20, 2013
Yellow Jewelweed at Harris Forest Preserve pond July 12, 2015
It is very intriguing how the flowers are suspended horizontally on arching, slender petioles. The conical flower's posterior tapers to a skinny nectar spur that hooks around forward to a position underneath the rest of the flower. Jewelweed is a favorite of the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird as its long tongue is uniquely able to get back into that nectar spur.
Yellow Jewelweed at Harris Forest Preserve pond August 20, 2013
The common name "Jewelweed" comes from the way the oil on its leaves cause drops of rain or dew to bead and reflect light like jewels. The Jewelweed oil was collected and used by Native Americans for its skin-healing properties including treatment of Poison Ivy rashes. Reminder: see our Do Not Disturb Notice.
The other common name “Touch-Me-Not” comes from the seed pods that are like coiled springs ready to pop when touched to fling their seeds five feet way. The scientific name “Impatiens” was given to denote this unique property - impatient to scatter the seeds.
The Jewel Weed flowers are deep throated and are pollinated almost exclusively by Ruby Throated Hummingbirds which have long enough bills to reach the nectar in back.
Orange Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) has similar foliage, but its flowers are pale yellow.
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