Jewelweed sightings surge as this wetland wildflower hits peak bloom
iNaturalist Community
Phenology
If you've got a damp shady corner of your yard or walk near a creek, jewelweed's orange trumpet flowers and exploding seed pods are worth watching for right now, since late August is prime time to spot it in bloom.
Jewelweed is a native wildflower that loves wet, shady spots and pops out bright orange, trumpet-shaped flowers in late summer. Right now it's one of the most-logged plants on iNaturalist, with over 1,200 confirmed sightings in a single week, which tells us it's blooming heavily across its range and plenty of people are noticing. It's also known for its ripe seed pods that burst open at the lightest touch, a fun trick to try if you find some.
Key Findings
1,243 research-grade observations of Impatiens capensis logged in one week
Ranked among the most-observed plant species on iNaturalist this week
Timing aligns with the species' typical late-summer flowering and seed-dispersal period
chevron_right Technical Summary
Common jewelweed is having a big moment on iNaturalist, with 1,243 research-grade sightings logged this week, signaling that this late-summer wildflower is blooming widely and catching foragers' and naturalists' attention.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Trending: common jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) — 1243 observations this week
common jewelweed is among the most observed plant species this week with 1243 research-grade observations.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
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Impatiens capensis, the orange jewelweed, common jewelweed, spotted jewelweed, jewelweed, spotted touch-me-not, or orange balsam, is an annual plant in the family Balsaminaceae that is native to North America. It is common in bottomland soils, ditches, and along creeks, often growing side by sid...