Impatiens capensis
Libra
Resiliency, Walking in Shadows
Jewelweed, also called Spotted Touch-Me-Not, is a native North American annual that thrives in moist, shaded spots like wetlands, forest edges and stream banks. Easily recognized by its striking orange or yellow trumpet-shaped flowers—often dotted with red or orange spots—this plant gets its name from the way its blossoms dangle on slender stalks, each featuring a curved spur that gives a jewel-like sparkle.
Growing 2 to 5 feet tall, Jewelweed blooms from late spring through early fall. Its light green, oval leaves have finely toothed edges and are arranged alternately along smooth stems. One of the plant’s most notable traits is its natural water repellency: rain and dew bead on the leaves, reflecting light and creating a silvery shimmer. This luminous quality speaks to spiritual clarity and the ability to reflect light even when surrounded by shadows—an apt symbol for those who walk among darkness without absorbing it.
Jewelweed attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, relying on cross-pollination from these visitors. It also produces cleistogamous (self-fertilizing) flowers that never open, ensuring reproduction even in the absence of pollinators. This trait symbolizes quiet resilience—the inner strength to endure, adapt and continue. It mirrors the strength needed by those who navigate shadow realms, whether physical or spiritual. Jewelweed also exhibits resiliency in its growing environment; plants grow at marsh edges and creek sides and also in ditches and road cuts.
The plant’s natural water-repelling leaves shimmer with rain, symbolizing clarity and the ability to reflect light even in shadowed places. This quality reminds us to maintain our own clarity and boundaries, repelling negativity and holding space for healing. People attracted to Jewelweed are those who can walk into shadows bringing light with them. Despite blooming on delicate stalks, the plant models the resilience required to work in shadow worlds: difficult, heavy or emotionally charged environments. Its presence can be symbolic of professions that enter the dark to bring light: police officers, firefighters, paramedics, therapists, and spiritual healers. These individuals may excel at leaving behind the burdens of what they witness, maintaining personal clarity and light in the face of darkness.
Its nickname “Touch-Me-Not” comes from the ripe seed pods that burst explosively when disturbed. This can be taken as a reminder for people close to those in helping professions that they too have limits, and can be explosive when pushed to extremes.
Jewelweed’s sap has been used as a folk remedy to soothe the itching, redness, and inflammation caused by poison ivy’s urushiol oil. Applying the juice from jewelweed’s stems and leaves can help neutralize the rash, reduce discomfort, and speed healing, making it a natural first aid companion wherever poison ivy grows. This relationship symbolizes balance and harmony between challenge (shadow worlds) and healing. Plants have also been used in folk medicine for anti-fungal properties.
Jewelweed is also known as Orange Jewelweed, Common Jewelweed, Spotted Jewelweed and Orange Balsam.