WiseAcre Gardens

Jewelweed in Yellow

Posted by WiseAcre on Aug 24th, 2008

2008

Aug 24

Pale Touch-Me-Not Impatiens pallida

I’m used to seeing the orange Spotted Jewelweed growing everywhere I look around home but never ran across the yellow Pale Jewelweed in the north country. It took a 200+ mile trip downstate for me to find the yellow.

Pale Jewelweed

I had a hard time believing the size of the plants I found at the old Shaker Settlement in New Lebanon, New York. They were easily 8 feet tall and towered over me. The Pale Jewelweed was common all through the area bordering the NY – Mass state line.

I was especially happy since only a few days earlier I caught a Spotted Jewelweed of exceptional beauty at home. Now I have the full set

Spotted Jewelweed

While my field guides state Jewelweed grows in wet shady areas they are not uncommon to find in sunny spots that remain wet. While those in sun don’t reach the size of the ones found in shade I noticed they too seem to grow larger than stated.

Spotted Jewelweed A cross?

While the Spotted Jewelweed had a more orange look this one is more yellow. The spur on the back of the flower is longer like the Spotted Jewelweed and the marking are also similar.

My guess is that nature is playing. There is so much variety amoung even the same species that I’ll never know or really care. I’m just along for the ride and take pleasure watching the show.

I’m looking forward to the last act. I can’t wait to go poking the seed pods when they’re ready to pop.

Touch-Me-Not – yea right!

Besides I know from experience Jewelweed is great for relieving the itch caused by poison ivy.

9 Responses

Angie Says:
August 24th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Those are gorgeous! I know I’ve seen some in our woods before, but not sure of the variety. I’ll have to look more intently and capture a photo next time I find one!

Angie,
It’s nice to see new GTS member. Either that or somehow I missed you before. I haven’t had time during my work season to visit other blogs much but winter is coming soon. I’ve already stopped by your blog – I’ll be back since I can’t resist looking at other amateur photographer’s shots

I do visit everyone that makes a stop here. It’s the least I can do
Tricia Says:
August 24th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Your jewelweed photos are lovely. I really haven’t seen much Jewel weed. They look a little bit like Ladies Slippers due to the shape of their bloom. Very interesting.

Tricia,
Glad you like them. They don’t make a good garden plant but the flowers are cool.
rosemary Says:
August 24th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
never heard of this beautiful flower , lovely

rosemary,
It was nice being able to introduce you to them
MrBrownThumb Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 1:34 am
What a bunch of cool flowers never seen them before.

MrBrownThumb,
Guess you have to get out to the countryside. I don’t imagine jewelweed likes urban settings. Too bad they didn’t have it in the medicinal garden you visited. I’d guess jewelweed is one of the most used ‘medicinal’ plants around. It’s easy to use – break off a stem and apply the sap to relieve itching caused by poison ivy. I’ve used it myself this summer. It may not work for everyone but it does the trick for me.
Rosengeranium (Indoor Gardener) Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Lovely Touch-Me-Not. The thing that startled me, though, is that they have the same name in swedish as in english. This is uncommon, in general names that sounds like epithets are, well, disagreeing on what they describe. A striking example is the flower which is called “Lily of King’s Meadow” in swedish, and “Snake’s Head” in english. (This is also the official flower of my county.)

Rosengeranium,
I had to go look up “Lily of King’s Meadow” – Fritillaria Meleagris. I found a photo on another blog –
http://piaks.blogspot.com/2008/05/kings-meadow-lily-me.html

It’s a great looking flower that would be welcome in my garden. I’ve got to go see if I can find some now and if it would like it here.
Blackswampgirl Kim Says:
August 29th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Wonderful pictures! I have only really seen the orange-flowered jewelweed in the wild around here–not your yellow or the pretty bicolored one you show. The orange does make a nice glow in shady areas, though.

Kim,
I wish they were my yellow. I haven’t seen them around here and only spotted them down south. But the bi-colored one is in my yard Look around and you should find plenty of variety too. I was surprised at how much the flowers varied in different areas.
Digital Flower Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 7:13 am
These are wonderful Jewel weeds. I used to pull out the common orange ones out of the garden until I noticed the Hummingbirds visiting them all the time.

DF,
I keep hoping to find something – anything feeding on mine but so far no luck getting a photo. I don’t need to pull mine – my wife considers them a weed Jewelweed does get out of control though since they’re such a prolific seeder.
Debbie Says:
August 30th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Gorgeous shots. You were very close to my neck of the woods.

I always enjoy your lovely photos and thanks for sharing them as desktops. They brighten my day.

Debbie,
If I had known I was close I would have stopped in the middle of the night and helped myself to your garden. I like sharing

Maybe next time I head down to visit my daughter you can take me out for a free lunch. I’ll bring my edible plant field guide and see what’s on the menu.
stone Says:
August 31st, 2008 at 7:59 pm
I hope that you were able to collect seed!
I discovered some yellow-jewel weed on the N.Carolina/Tennessee border three years ago…

I tried transplanting some of the babies, but they didn’t survive the experience… of course moving jewel-weed has always been hit-or-miss for me.

stone,
Good to hear from ya – been a long time. No seed yet. The plants weren’t ready at the time but they should be now. Either I have to make a trip or ask my daughter to collect some. I think I’ll forget to warn her they explode on contact. I always had fun making my girls jump and it good to know I can still do it even from a distance

I’ve had success transplanting seedlings but that’s usually when transplanting something else. The Jewelweed just goes along for the ride.