Yellow jewelweed is a colorful annual wildflower in the Balsaminaceae family often found uncultivated along roadsides, in moist forests, and along streambanks and bogs. The genus name comes from the Latin impatiens meaning impatient and refers to the violent seed discharge from the ripe pods. Dew often beads up on the leaves forming sparkling droplets, thus the common name jewelweed. As a mature plant in the summer, it will reach a height of 5 feet and a width of 2 to 3 feet. This plant has seed capsules that spring open as the seed ripens and ejecting the seed a considerable distance. These capsules are sensitive to touch and make seed collection difficult but fun, especially for young gardeners. The root system consists of a shallow branching taproot.Yellow Jewelweed has attractive foliage and is noted for its large interesting flowers that bloom over an extended period of time. Yellow jewelweed can grow in well-drained, moist, sandy, loamy, or clay soils and prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. It can grow in semi-shade or full sun. The plant prefers partial sun and soil that is mucky. Yellow Jewelweed tolerates dry conditions better than most impatiens species and grows rapidly from seed during the summer. Use yellow jewelweed in the border of butterfly and pollinator gardens to attract bees and butterflies. It will also due well along streams, ponds and bogs. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant insect or disease problems. Can self-seed and spread.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are 4 inches long and 2 inches across, ovate and hairless. Slender petioles are up to 2 inches long
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Nodding pale yellow flowers that are occasionally splotched with reddish brown. Racemes of 1 to 3 flowers are produced. Each flower is 1 to 1¼ inches long, consisting of 5 petals, 3 sepals, and reproductive organs within a yellow or cream-colored tubular corolla.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Capsules contain seed and are sensitive to touch. They will spring open and eject the seeds inside a considerable distance.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Succulent, translucent stems are light green, glabrous, and glaucous
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern North America
Distribution
From Newfoundland and Saskatchewan in Canada, south as far as Georgia.
Wildlife value
Attracts the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, bumblebees, and moths. Large seeds are eaten by gamebirds and small mammals.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators; Small Mammals