Bloomipedia
Common jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
Photo: Nick Kleinschmidt via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Common jewelweed

Impatiens capensis

Common jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is a flowering plant in the Balsaminaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–September across the U.S.

Native to New Hampshire

Common jewelweed is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In New Hampshire it's most often seen in bloom in July–September.

41states where USDA records it
1,921NH sightings*
99,287U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: New Hampshire

Quick look

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 side with its less common relative, yellow jewelweed (I. pallida).

  • It belongs to the Balsaminaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 41 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to New Hampshire. NatureServe
  • In New Hampshire, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–September. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as indeterminate. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 4.9 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 1,921 research-grade sightings of it in New Hampshire, ranking #24 among the 157 flowers on our New Hampshire list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In New Hampshire, most flowering sightings come in July–September.

Flowering records by month in New Hampshire (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (287 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: fruits. Symptoms they list: “The fruits are toxic if ingested and cause mild to moderate gastric irritation.” They also note: “The berries are toxic to humans” NC State Extension

For petsNon-toxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Buzzy Lizzie” (Impatiens spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating lots of any plant can still upset a pet's stomach. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records common jewelweed in 41 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

New Hampshire counties with USDA records: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Common jewelweed a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.4 to 7.4 and winter lows down to 32 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
6.4 to 7.4
Minimum temperature tolerated
32 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
95
Annual precipitation range
14 to 50 inches
Minimum root depth
14 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Rapid
Active growth period
Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for IMCA. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Impatiens biflora, Impatiens fulva, Impatiens nortonii.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1413 counties across 40 states; the most are in Missouri (103), Virginia (100), Illinois (92).

Other Impatiens on Bloomipedia (1): Himalayan balsam.

More New Hampshire flowers

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Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides)

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Sources