How to Grow and Care for Jewelweed

Jewelweed, also commonly known as spotted touch-me-not, is an annual wildflower with cornucopia-shaped flowers topping blue-green, oval leaves that are toothed and partially fuzzy. Jewelweed grows well in environments that many other plants can't tolerate, including soggy soil and deep shade. It prefers dappled sunlight, rich soil, and moist, humid conditions that are far from dry.

Jewelweed Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing jewelweed:

• Plant jewelweed in a shaded area where the soil remains moist; avoid full sun, dry, or drought conditions.

• Sow seeds close together so the plants can help to support each other as they develop taller stems but space seeds farther apart if you prefer shorter flowers.

• Choose slightly acidic soil to plant jewelweed.
  

Light

Jewelweed does well in dappled sunlight to full shade. It can tolerate direct morning sun, but strong afternoon sun can be too harsh for the plants.

Soil

Jewelweed prefers organically rich soil that retains moisture. Digging a thick layer of compost into your soil prior to planting is a great way to give your plants a nutrient boost. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH is best.

Water

Jewelweed thrives in evenly moist soil and will wither if the soil becomes too dry. It can even survive occasionally waterlogged soil. Water whenever the top inch of soil dries out. And consider adding a layer of mulch to help retain soil moisture.

Temperature and Humidity

Jewelweed is not hardy to cold temperatures, and exposure to frost can damage or kill it. It can survive fairly hot temperatures as long as it has sufficient shade and soil moisture. Likewise, it can tolerate a range of humidity levels, though it doesn't thrive in very dry conditions.

Fertilizer

Jewelweed generally doesn't need supplemental fertilizer. However, if you have very poor soil, it's ideal to add compost at the time of planting and then side-dress with compost in the summer.

Types of Jewelweed

There are two types of jewelweed that look exactly alike, except for the flower color:

• Spotted or orange jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) grows yellow flowers.

• Pale or yellow jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) has yellow flowers.
  

Pruning

It can be difficult to prevent jewelweed from propagating on its own via its explosive seed pods. However, pruning off the seed pods before they mature can help to control their spread if that's what you wish.

How to Grow Jewelweed From Seed

Jewelweed is an annual and it will typically self-seed on its own without any help. However, if you want to strategically grow the plant in other areas of your yard, you can very easily propagate jewelweed with purchased or harvested seeds from its pods. Take these steps:

1. Put seeds through stratification to simulate winter temperatures. Two to three months before your area's projected last spring frost date, put the seeds in the refrigerator.

2. Then, once the threat of frost has passed, direct sow the seeds in your garden just slightly covered with soil, as they need some light to germinate.

3. Make sure the soil remains moist, and you should see germination within a week or two, depending on soil temperature.

Or, you can start seeds in a small container. But then it's best to transplant seedlings to a container that can accommodate jewelweed's mature size rather than having to repot throughout the season. A 5-gallon container should suffice.

Potting and Repotting Jewelweed

To grow jewelweed in a container, use a plastic pot with drainage holes. Fill it with a good-quality potting mix. Using a plastic pot will help the soil to retain moisture. Note that container plants generally need watering more frequently than those grown in the ground, so check moisture levels frequently on your potted jewelweed.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Though jewelweed has few issues with pests and diseases, watch mealybugs, which can be controlled using various methods, including spraying with insecticidal soap or wiping them off with rubbing alcohol.

Be on the lookout for downy and powdery mildew, leaf spot, and Botrytis blight. These fungal issues can be treated with fungicides. In addition, avoid overwatering, especially in humid conditions.

How to Get Jewelweed to Bloom

How Long Does Jewelweed Bloom?

Jewelweed's flowers appear in the midsummer and continue into fall.

What Do Jewelweed Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Jewelweed's flowers are unscented. They have four to five petals and stretch around 1 to 3 inches across. They're typically orange or yellow-orange with reddish spotting.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Deadheading, or removing the spent blooms, isn't essential, though it can help to promote further blooming. But jewelweed generally blooms readily on its own without any special care from you.

Common Problems With Jewelweed

When jewelweed grows in conditions it likes, it generally thrives and will spread vigorously. However, issues with its environment can be the cause of some problems.

Drooping Leaves

Jewelweed plants will quickly droop if they don't have enough moisture. Especially in hot, dry conditions, it's important to check your jewelweed's moisture levels regularly. You might need to water multiple times per week in some climates.

Leaf Drop

Jewelweed might lose its leaves due to prolonged drought. Frost also can cause leaf drop, which is why it's key not to plant until there's no more frost in the spring forecast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when you touch jewelweed?

If something gently touches a jewelweed's slender seed pod when it's ripe, it splits open and explodes, dispersing seeds in all directions about a foot out which is why it's also commonly called touch-me-not. It's the plant's method of self-preservation since it can happen when birds try to open the pods to extract the seeds.

How can I collect jewelweed seeds?

Collect mature jewelweed seeds from the plants' small pods in the early fall. Grab the ripe pod and hold it tightly in your hand so it explodes and discharges the seeds into your hand instead of on the ground. You can also try this with a bag over the pod, or hold your hand in a bag to catch seeds. Plant them right away in your preferred location about 1/4 inch deep. This will expose them to the cold winter temperatures that they need to germinate in the spring.

Where does jewelweed grow?

Jewelweed grows best when it fills in shady and/or boggy spots where many other plants won't grow. It can do well along the edges of ponds and other water features, as well as low-lying areas. Plus, it can be used to out-compete non-native species. Jewelweed's dense growth can discourage weeds, as well.

What's the difference between jewelweed and yellow jewelweed?

Yellow jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) is a species related to Impatiens capensis, though it's less common than the orange-flower variety. Yellow jewelweed's blooms are yellow with reddish spots, and they are larger than orange jewelweed's blooms.

What are alternatives to jewelweed?

If you're looking for flowers that will grow in shade, there are several other choices besides jewelweed. Consider coral bells, other impatiens species, bleeding heart, lungwort, and rhododendrons.