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One of Nature’s Mysteries to Solve

Yes! We had correct guesses today! This is a native Impatiens, the Jewelweed or Spotted Touch-me-not, Impatiens capensis.

Those things our readers mentioned in the comments are correct, but let me also add we see hummingbirds absolutely working these orange flowers. They may not smell, but I guess a load of nectar gets trapped in the tiny trumpet flower. And of course, those hummers love red and orange flowers.

Certainly this is one of those under-appreciated plants. It spreads readily by seed and fills a lot of damp, shady land. It can grow 2-5 feet if the conditions are right.

4 thoughts on “One of Nature’s Mysteries to Solve”

Pretty flower but no smell, but the plant sure serves a good purpose if you’ve gotten yourself into some poison ivy…..And it gets its name in a special way. If you turn the leaves upside down in the water, they look like the bottom of each leaf is covered in jewels………