Impatiens pallida
(Spotted Touch-me-not)

Other pictures of this plant:


               Seedpod                                           Leaf                                            Stem                                        Seed                                          Habit

Facts About this Plant:

    Common Names: Pale Touch-me-not, Pale Jewelweed, Yellow Jewelweed
    Lifespan: Annual
    Zones: N/A
    Type: Forb
    Bloom Time: June - November
    Status: Native
    Range:

Impatiens pallida, or Pale Touch-me-not, is a native annual that can be found only in the eastern United States. It grows in moist open woods, woodland edges, ditches and other similar areas. It blooms from late spring or early summer until frost. Its common name of "touch me not" alludes to its seed pods, which burst open from the slightest touch and spread its seeds wherever they fall - often they can shoot quite a distance from the plant.

There are only five native species of Impatiens in the US; any others are non-native and they have flowers that are white or pink; this species is one of two with wide distribution in the US - the other being Impatiens capensis. Impatiens pallida can easily be distinguished from Impatiens capensis by its pale yellow flowers. The other native species will be added to this site at a later time.

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