WiseAcre Gardens

Now is the time of year that Spotted Jewelweed earns it’s common name. If you’ve ever touched a ripe seed pod you know why. They’re ‘spring loaded’ and will pop when touched.

I love this plant. It makes for a good pratical joke. Just tell someone to pick a pod and watch them jump.  The reaction looks like someone sticking their finger in a light socket. It’s startling even if you know what will happen.

The Jewelweed seedpods are ready when you can see dark markings on the pod. The older they get the more ‘hair triggered’ they become until they just can’t keep it in all in anymore and explode sending seeds flying.

I really don’t know how the pods explode. But it appears the pod sections themselves are the “springs”. They have a very curled shape after popping.

It’s good to know I can still reach out and make my girls jump. I’ve asked my youngest daughter to collect some seed of the Pale (yellow) Jewelweed that grows down by the NY – Mass border. I expect I’ll hear her from here when she goes to pick some.

If you want to see the Jewelweed flower photos from past posts look at this page:

Jewelweed flower photos