30 August 2026

Yellow jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) and spotted touch-me-not (orange jewelweed, Impatiens capensis) are at their peak in Schenley Park. Last week I examined them from many angles and documented how prolific they are.

Above, water droplets hang from each scallop on the leaves. Katherine Wagner-Reiss explains:

There are several popular explanations for the common name jewelweed: the bright spotted orange flowers [of Impatiens capensis] are said to be as pretty as ladies’ earrings; rain, dew, and guttation droplets on the leaves sparkle like gems in the sun; and submerged leaves have a silvery sheen due to microscopic hairs.

— Morris Arboretum: Plant Name Blooper: Impatiens capensis (jewelweed)

On a wet morning there are many jewels to choose from.

John English told me that yellow jewelweed seeds are a pale robin’s egg blue inside the casing so I had to experiment. Here are all the stages of the seeds, clockwise from the pale blue seed:

• Pale blue seed found inside the darkest casing
• On both sides of the blue seed are unripe green seed casings
• Seed pod curls after they popped
• Intact seed pod (looks like okra)
• Ripe brown seed casings

I was also pleased to document so many patches of both jewelweeds in Schenley Park. It’s a stellar year with few deer.