Jewelweed in Yellow
Join Green Thumb Sundays 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.
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 
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.
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.
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!
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.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
never heard of this beautiful flower , lovely
August 29th, 2008 at 1:34 am
What a bunch of cool flowers never seen them before.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.