Jewelweed
Impatiens glanduliferafam. Balsaminaceae
Educational content — not medical, botanical, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified clinician before using any herbal preparation — especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, while on medication, or for children. How we source & review →
Pl. F67A — Impatiens glandulifera
Impatiens glanduliferaImpatiens glanduliferaImpatiens glanduliferaImpatiens glanduliferaImpatiens glanduliferaImpatiens glanduliferaImpatiens glanduliferaImpatiens glanduliferaImpatiens glanduliferaImpatiens glanduliferaImpatiens glanduliferaImpatiens glanduliferaImpatiens glanduliferaImpatiens glandulifera
IOverview
Overview
Jewelweed (Impatiens glandulifera) is a member of the Balsaminaceae family and is native to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and the West Himalaya. This plant is known for its ornamental value due to its vibrant, jewel-like flowers, which are often orange or yellow with distinctive red spots. It thrives in moist, light (sandy), medium, and heavy (clay) soils with a pH of 7–7.5, making it adaptable but preferring well-drained conditions. While primarily an annual reaching heights of 1.5 meters, jewelweed is also valued for its edible parts—leaves, shoots, and seeds—which can be consumed. Additionally, the plant has documented medicinal uses, contributing to its significance in traditional medicine practices.
Quick answers
What is Jewelweed?
Jewelweed (Impatiens glandulifera) is a member of the Balsaminaceae family and is native to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and the West Himalaya. This plant is known for its ornamental value due to its vibrant, jewel-like flowers, which are often orange or yellow with distinctive red spots.
What is Jewelweed used for?
Traditionally used for topical & skin. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.
Best for
Top 1 evidence-ranked use of Jewelweed
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
IIBenefits & evidence
1 claim · 0 sources
Benefits & evidence
1 claim · 0 sources- Traditional-use note: Jewelweed appears in herbal sources around traditional skin-care routines, often as a tincture. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.
Traditional context only. This reviewed claim keeps the original low confidence level, but avoids treatment, disease, dosage, or guaranteed-effect language.
IV·bMixology suggestions
1 draft
Mixology suggestions
1 draftEditorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Jewelweed support blend
generaltea
AI returned a direct ingredient list; normalized into one draft blend for editorial review.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Jewelweed thrives in moist conditions and prefers light to medium or heavy soils. It is best grown as an annual and can reach a height of 1.5 meters. Jewelweed requires partial shade with moderate light exposure (light requirement: 5/10). The soil should have a pH between 7 and 7.5, and the plant benefits from consistent moisture. Hardy in temperate regions, it grows well in zones 5-9. For propagation, seeds can be sown directly into the garden after the last frost or started indoors earlier for transplanting later. Leaves, shoots, and seeds are edible parts of the plant.
Light
5/10
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
5-9
Life cycle
Annual
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
1.5 m tall
Soil pH
7–7.5
For first-time growers
How to grow Jewelweed for the first time
8steps
Start with Jewelweed as an easy-to-grow annual for a beginner gardener.
- 1
What you'll need
Seeds or seedlings, garden soil, container if planting indoors.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in spring after the last frost when temperatures are above 10°C (50°F).
- 3
Soil and container prep
Use a well-draining potting mix with a pH of 7–7.5 for containers; ensure garden soil is moist, light, and medium.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Direct sow seeds in the garden after all danger of frost has passed; or start seedlings indoors 4-6 weeks before planting outdoors.
- 5
First two weeks
Water regularly to keep soil moist, especially during dry spells. Monitor for pests and diseases.
- 6
Ongoing care
Provide partial shade and regular watering. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune back plants in late summer to promote a bushier growth habit; harvest leaves and shoots for culinary use as needed.
- 8
Common mistakes
Overwatering, planting in heavy clay soil, neglecting to deadhead flowers.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:LeavesSeedShoots
Edible uses: Oil
Other uses:oil
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
4 native · 26 introduced
Distribution
4 native · 26 introducedDistribution across3 continents· 4 native· 26 introduced
Europe12 regions
introduced (12)AustriaBelgiumBulgariaDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyHungaryIrelandItalyRussiaUnited Kingdom
Asia5 regions
native (3)NepalPakistanSri Lanka
introduced (2)BangladeshIndia
Africa1 region
introduced (1)Ethiopia
Broader regions
native:West Himalaya
introduced:British Columbia, Argentina South, California, Czechoslovakia, Connecticut, Baltic States, Idaho, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Maine, Altay
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXSee also
8 related
See also
8 relatedPlants you might compare or use together — scored by shared family (Balsaminaceae), common use cases, and growing requirements.
shared use cases
Different families, similar therapeutic role — good for comparing.
XI
Explore further
Companion planting
Health goals
Compare with similar plants
Growing zone
XII
About this entry
- Last updated
- Citation
- How to cite this entry · Submit a correction
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