Jewelweed
Impatiens pallida
Last reviewed: September 2026
Impatiens pallida, or pale jewelweed, is a moisture loving forb that blooms pale yellow flowers from July through September in part shade to shaded, damp woodland edges and stream banks.
Jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Jewelweed as toxic to livestock.
Light
part shade
Water
high
Size
24"–60" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
AL, AR, CT, DE and 29 more states
Pollinators
bees, hummingbirds
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Jewelweed is a tall annual wildflower with succulent stems and bright yellow spotted flowers that bloom from summer through fall. It thrives in moist, shaded areas and self-seeds readily, often forming colonies in wet soils. The plant has a somewhat loose, informal growth habit that works well in naturalized gardens.
Growing Jewelweed
Grow Jewelweed in part shade and high water. Mature plants reach 24 to 60 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect high maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
How to care for Jewelweed, by region
How to care for Jewelweed where it is actually grown: year-round basics plus what to do each season, region by region, with the sources for each.
Care guidance last updated: October 2026
Erie Drift Plain (includes Buffalo, NY)
Year-round
Pale jewelweed is an easy annual that grows fast from seed and re-seeds itself.
- Partial sun is preferred, but it takes full sun to dappled shade.
- It tolerates clay, loam, and sand and likes moist sites with good drainage.
- Maintenance is low.
It reaches 2 to 5 feet and self-seeds, so it suits a back border better than a front edge.
Fall
Fall is seed time, and ripe pods fling seed some distance.
- Seed pods eject seed when ripe.
- Large seeds are eaten by gamebirds and small mammals.
- Remove spent plants before pods ripen if you want less spread.
Winter
Winter is a rest period, since it is an annual and seed carries it over.
- The plant does not overwinter, the seed does.
- No cutback or mulch is needed for the plant.
Spring
Spring is when seedlings grow, and it grows rapidly from seed.
- Expect new plants from last year's seed.
- Thin them if they spread more than you want.
Summer
Summer brings pale yellow flowers and hummingbird and bee visits.
- Bloom runs summer into fall.
- It likes moist soil but tolerates dry better than most impatiens.
Sources: NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Impatiens pallida
In an HOA neighborhood
Jewelweed takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Tall informal growth appears weedy to many
- Self-seeds aggressively and can spread beyond intended areas
- Dies back messily in fall leaving bare patches
Wildlife value
The tubular flowers are particularly attractive to hummingbirds and native bees. The plant also serves as a host for several butterfly species and provides seeds for birds in late summer.
Common questions
- When does pale jewelweed bloom?
- Pale jewelweed typically flowers from July through September, producing pale yellow, spurred blossoms along its stems.
- What pollinators visit Impatiens pallida?
- Bees and hummingbirds are the main visitors, drawn to the tubular flowers for nectar during the summer bloom period.
- What growing conditions does this plant need?
- It prefers part shade and consistently moist to wet soil, often found along stream banks, seeps, and the edges of damp woodlands.
- Is Impatiens pallida a perennial?
- It is an annual forb that reseeds itself readily, dying back each year and regrowing from seed the following season.
- Is Jewelweed toxic to dogs?
- Jewelweed is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
- Is Jewelweed toxic to cats?
- Jewelweed is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
- Is Jewelweed toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Jewelweed as toxic to livestock.
- Is Jewelweed HOA-friendly?
- Jewelweed takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Jewelweed? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.