Reference my earlier post entitled Jewelweed – Friend or Foe? This year I’m more than grateful to have the Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) growing in my yard. With all the damage to my prairie, I have so little quantity and, to a lesser extent, variety of plants standing upright that the jewelweed has become a great alternative for the bees.
I have been watering mine. Watering lots of plants at the base. I put the flowers in vinegar and witch hazel. Or a comb of both. I may dry some flowers and then add. I have had some in very high sunlight areas. They fall at the base if you water, die if you do not water. They are easy enough to pull up. I have been thinking of planting the root base. All impatiens can be easily rooted. I wonder if they are all medicinal. My regular impatiens died of a disease a few years back. They seem to be doing fine this year.
A ravine nearby has the big yellow. I think the stems were cooked with maple syrup to use on the skin.
They should be more popular in land restoration, especially moist areas.
Since impatiens are annuals, Cindy, they are unlikely candidates for typical land restoration. However, they are such aggressive seeders, in the right place they might work well in a bottomland-type restoration.
I was exposed to different ideas. They do not generally plant moss or violets either. Once in a blue violet means all the time.
You’re correct, Cindy. It would take a special person to appreciate these plants in their landscape.