Jewelweed

Impatiens capensis

Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Balsaminaceae
Genus:: Impatiens
Species:: Impatiens capensis

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Annual
Growth Habit:: Forb/herb
Height:: 4-6 ft
Light Requirements:: Shade
Drought Tolerance:: High
Bloom Months:: jul, aug, sep, oct
Bloom Colors:: Orange, Yellow, Green, Brown

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★★★★☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Olethreutes agilana

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Bombus bimaculatus (Bombus bimaculatus), Bombus bimaculatus (Bombus bimaculatus), Bombus griseocollis (Bombus griseocollis), Bombus griseocollis (Bombus griseocollis), Bombus ternarius (Bombus ternarius), Bombus ternarius (Bombus ternarius), Bombus vagans (Bombus vagans), Bombus vagans (Bombus vagans), bumblebee (Bombus Latreille), bumblebee (Bombus Latreille), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Northern amber bumble bee (Bombus borealis), Northern amber bumble bee (Bombus borealis), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) Hummingbirds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: rich, moist, well-drained loamy soil
pH:: 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:: tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:: consistently moist
Notes:: Commonly found in wetlands and along streams

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seal the seeds mixed with an equal amount of vermiculite or perlite, adding enough water to barely saturate the mixture in a Rubbermaid-style container or Ziploc-style bag and put in 42 degree F or colder location for at least two months. Keep in a cool dry place (refrigerator or cold garage) until planted (up to 3 years).

Establishment: Seed is collected by hand from locally native plants within the eastern central Upper Peninsula. The plant is tolerant of full sun to full shade and reaches heights of 2'-5' with an orange flower, rarely yellow. Flowers are spotted with orange, rose or brown dots. Has a long spur that is bent back below the sac, sometimes more than 180 degrees.

Source: npn.rngr.net