Touch-me-not

Impatiens capensis

Alternate names
Jewelweed

Weed Description
Branching annual with distinctive orange to red funnel-shaped flowers. Touch-me-not is found primarily along roadsides, along the edges of streams and marshes, and in other noncrop areas throughout Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

Leaves
Leaves are elliptic to triangular in outline, approximately 2 to 4 1/2 inches long and 1 1/4 to 3 inches wide. All leaves are without hairs (glabrous), have margins that are slightly toothed and occur on petioles that may reach 2 1/2 inches in length.

Stems
Without hairs (glabrous), reaching 6 1/2 feet in height.

Flowers
Bright orange to red in color, forming a triangular funnel with a spotted sepal at the mouth of the funnel.

Fruit
A capsule.

Identifying Characteristics
The orange funnel shaped flowers and triangular leaves with toothed margins are both characteristics that help in the identification of touch-me-not.

Trouble identifying a weed?

For additional assistance identifying weeds, contact Dr. Kevin Braldly, State Extension Weed Scientist (bradleyke@missouri.edu).

Office of Programs

University of Missouri

Touch-me-not

Impatiens capensis

Trouble identifying a weed?