Jewelweed sightings surge as this native wildflower hits peak bloom
iNaturalist Community
Native Plants
The orange, spotted flowers popping up along shady streambanks and ditches right now are jewelweed, a native plant whose crushed leaves have long been used to soothe skin after brushing against poison ivy or stinging nettle.
Jewelweed is a native wildflower with dangling orange flowers and seed pods that pop open when you touch them, which is why it's also called touch-me-not. Right now people all over are noticing and photographing it in huge numbers, which means it's in peak bloom season. If you walk near damp, shady spots like creek edges or woodland margins, this is a great week to spot it yourself.
Key Findings
887 research-grade observations of common jewelweed were logged in one week
It ranks among the most-observed plant species on iNaturalist this week
High observation volume signals the species is at a visible, identifiable growth stage across its range
chevron_right Technical Summary
Common jewelweed is having a big moment on iNaturalist, with 887 research-grade sightings logged in a single week, showing this native wildflower is blooming widely right now and easy to spot.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Trending: common jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) — 887 observations this week
common jewelweed is among the most observed plant species this week with 887 research-grade observations.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
Was this useful?
Want to tell us more? (optional)
Thanks for the note!
Something went wrong — please try again.
Too many submissions. Try again in an hour.
Street trees cut heat deaths by 39 percent in European cities
Trees in your local park or street aren't just pretty — they are literally keeping people alive during heatwaves, and planting even a modest number of the ri...
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...