Low riskEdible cooked
Jewelweed
Impatiens capensis
Orange spotted flowers, watery stems. Traditional wash for poison ivy and nettle.
- Marks
- Watery stem; orange jewel flowers; exploding pods
- Size
- 2–5 ft
- Habitat
- Wet shade: seeps, creek edges, ditch shade.
- Season
- July–September.
- Frequency
- abundant
Succulent, almost translucent stems. Leaves silver-spangle when dunked. Flowers are orange, dangling, with a curved nectar spur. Seed pods explode when touched.
Uses
Crush stems and swab on fresh ivy or nettle sting. Young shoots can be boiled (change water).
If this is the one
For ivy or nettle: mash juicy stems and rub on skin as soon as you can.