Impatiens pallida - Pale Jewelweed

Family:	Balsaminaceae
Habit:	Annual
Height:	1.5
Width:	0.6
Synonyms:
Range:	Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Saskatchewan, south to Georgia.

Impatiens pallida (Pale Jewelweed) is a Annual which grows to a height of 1.5m and a width of 0.6m . It has a hardness rating of 8.
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Pale Jewelweed will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Pale Jewelweed prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Pale Jewelweed can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Moist woodland and wet meadows, usually on calcareous soils[43].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any reasonably good soil[1]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a moist well-drained humus rich soil in a cool site[200]. The plant is hardy to about -5°c[238]. It should be possible to grow it as a spring-sown annual in most parts of Britain. This plant has seed capsules that spring open forcibly as the seed ripens to eject the seed a considerable distance. The capsules are sensitive to touch even before the seed is ripe, making seed collection difficult but fun[K].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Young leaves and shoots - cooked[62]. Added to sukiyaki, chow mein and other oriental dishes[183]. When used as a vegetable on their own the cooking water should be changed once or twice during the cooking[183]. Some caution is advised, see the notes on toxicity at the top of the record. Seed[62]. No more details are given but the seeds are difficult to harvest in quantity, mainly because of their exploding seed capsules which scatter the ripe seed at the slightest touch[K].

• Leaves -
• Seed - includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 3/5
The whole plant is diuretic, emetic and purgative[238]. It is only used externally, the soothing and medicinal sap is a proven remedy for nettle stings and poison ivy rash[62, 207, 222, 238, 257] and is also used in the treatment of warts, corns, ringworm and haemorrhoids[238].

• Skin - Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.
• Stings - Used in the treatment of stings and insect bites.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.

Known Hazards

Regular ingestion of large quantities of these plants can be dangerous due to their high mineral content[172]. This report, which seems nonsensical, might refer to calcium oxalate. This mineral is found in I. capensis and so is probably also in other members of the genus. It can be harmful raw but is destroyed by thoroughly cooking or drying the plant[K]. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones and hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet[238].

Other Uses

A fungicide is obtained from the plant. It is used to treat skin diseases[62]. There are no more details but it is probably obtained from the fresh juice of the plant and can be concentrated by boiling up the juice.

• Fungicide - Arrests the growth of, or kills, fungi.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Gray's Manual of Botany.
Fernald. M. L.
Author: Fernald. M. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
Date of Publication : 1950

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