Impatiens capensis
Spotted jewelweed, Spotted Jewelweed
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Balsaminaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Impatiens capensis (Spotted jewelweed) is a non-native California herb in the Balsaminaceae family, recognized by distinctive yellow-orange flowers and recurved short spur.
Spotted jewelweed is a naturalized perennial found in the San Francisco Bay Area in disturbed, moist, and often shaded sites such as streambanks at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from mid-summer to early autumn, this plant produces yellow-orange flowers with distinctive dark red markings, hanging delicately from axillary clusters. Growing 30 to 230 centimeters tall with succulent, branching stems, it has an upright and somewhat sprawling habit. Its alternate leaves are lanceolate to ovate, 3 to 11 centimeters long, with finely toothed edges and a pointed tip. The plant produces small oblong fruits and can also generate tiny cleistogamous green flowers early or late in the season.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinctive yellow-orange flowers and recurved short spur
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed, moist, often shaded sites, streambanks
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Alameda
Outside California: northwestern Oregon to southwestern British Columbia, where invasive, native to eastern North America
How to tell it apart
vs Catharanthus: Impatiens has spurred flowers and exploding capsules; periwinkle has flat 5-petaled flowers and non-explosive fruits.; vs Pelargonium: Impatiens has a hollow backward spur; geranium has fused stamens and long-beaked fruits.; vs Rosa: Impatiens has irregular spurred flowers; roses have regular 5-petaled flowers.; vs Begonia: Impatiens has symmetrical leaves and spurred flowers; begonia has asymmetric leaves and spurless flowers.; vs Bougainvillea: Impatiens has spurred petaled flowers; bougainvillea has tiny flowers surrounded by colorful bracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Impatiens capensis native to California?
No. Impatiens capensis is not native to California (recorded as not native).
Where in California does Impatiens capensis grow?
Impatiens capensis occurs in Alameda, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Impatiens capensis belong to?
Impatiens capensis is in the Balsaminaceae family, genus Impatiens.
What habitat does Impatiens capensis grow in?
Impatiens capensis grows in Disturbed, moist, often shaded sites, streambanks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.