Impatiens pallida Nutt. Yellow jewelweed
Yellow jewelweed is a North American native plant. Impatiens means “impatient,” a reference to the fact that dried seed capsules burst open when touched. Pallida means "pale," because these flowers are pale compared to those of the closely related species spotted jewelweed. They prefer regions that are at least seasonally wet and partially shaded, such as creek beds or damp soils. Spotted and yellow jewelweed prefer similar habitats and are often found close to each other. Plants: 3-5' (1-1.5 m) high, with translucent and rather fragile stems. Leaves: Leaves are bluish-green, oval-shaped, with shallow teeth, 1½-3 ⨉ ½-1¼" (3.8-7.6 ⨉ 1.3-3.2 cm). Flowers: Flowers occur in clusters of one to three, appearing from July to September. Viewed from the side, flowers are shaped a bit like a horn of plenty, yellow or pale yellow, with two large lower petals and one upper petal. There are usually a few red-brown spots within the throat of the flower, but none elsewhere. Each flower is about ¾" (1.9 cm) in size. Fruits: The seed pods, about ¾-1¼" (1.9-3.2 cm) long, spread their seeds by drying into a spring-loaded form that pops upon contact. These are closely similar: |
8/9/2010 · Keyes Farm, Nashoba Conservation Trust, Elm St., Pepperell, Massachusetts 8/9/2010 · Keyes Farm, Nashoba Conservation Trust, Elm St., Pepperell, Massachusetts 8/9/2010 · Keyes Farm, Nashoba Conservation Trust, Elm St., Pepperell, Massachusetts |
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Impatiens capensis |
You are here Impatiens pallida |
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Common Name | ![]() |
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Plant | 3-5' (1-1.5 m) high, with translucent and rather fragile stems. | 3-5' (1-1.5 m) high, with translucent and rather fragile stems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flowers | Flowers occur in clusters of one to three. Viewed from the side, flowers are shaped a bit like a horn of plenty, yellow, with two large lower petals and one upper petal, with spots or patches of red-orange. Each flower is about ¾" (1.9 cm) in size. They may appear orange rather than yellow from the front. | Flowers occur in clusters of one to three, appearing from July to September. Viewed from the side, flowers are shaped a bit like a horn of plenty, yellow or pale yellow, with two large lower petals and one upper petal. There are usually a few red-brown spots within the throat of the flower, but none elsewhere. Each flower is about ¾" (1.9 cm) in size. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leaves | Bluish-green, oval-shaped, with shallow teeth, about 4" (10 cm) × 1¾" (5 cm). | Bluish-green, oval-shaped, with shallow teeth, about 1½-3" (3.8-7.6 cm) × ½-1¼" (1.3-3.2 cm). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fruit | The seed pods, about ¾-1¼" (1.9-3.2 cm) long, spread their seeds by drying into a spring-loaded form that pops upon contact, delighting children. | The seed pods, about ¾-1¼" (1.9-3.2 cm) long, spread their seeds by drying into a spring-loaded form that pops upon contact. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Range/ Zones |
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Habitats | Moist ground, low woods, slopes, stream banks, ravines. Spotted and yellow jewelweed prefer similar habitats and are often found close to each other. | Regions that are at least seasonally wet and partially shaded, such as creek beds or damp soils. Spotted and yellow jewelweed prefer similar habitats and are often found close to each other. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | Wild | Wild | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occurrence | Common; invasive in some areas |
Medical: Yellow jewelweed is believed by many to have mild antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties, but see the article on spotted jewelweed, which is much more effective.
Online References:
The Vanderbilt University Bioimages web site
Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Maine.gov’s Department of Conservation Maine Natural Areas Program
8/9/2010 · Keyes Farm, Nashoba Conservation Trust, Elm St., Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 6" (11 × 15 cm)
Impatiens pallida description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 7 Sep 2023.
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8/9/2010 · Keyes Farm, Nashoba Conservation Trust, Elm St., Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 4" (16 × 10 cm)
Range: