Impatiens sp.
Touch-me-not, jewelweed, Jewelweed
(c) The Cosmonaut, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Balsaminaceae · Type: Perennial · Not Native
Impatiens sp. (Touch-me-not) is a non-native California perennial in the Balsaminaceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
No. Impatiens sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Impatiens sp. belong to?
Impatiens sp. is in the Balsaminaceae family, genus Impatiens.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.