Jewelweed is a very fun herbaceous plant to introduce to people on aplant walk . It gets its name ( depending on whom you ask ) from either the delicious flowers hanging beneath the dark-green leave like midget jewel or from the path that tiny dew droplets shimmer like jewels on the summit of the leaves .
Impatiens capensisis orange flowered , whileimpatiens pallida , a prominent and yellow flowering coinage , is just as gorgeous . Some also call it blob touch - me - not for thoseimpatiens - distinctive seeds that burst when touched ( a very fun garden activity for kids ) .
you could prove a silvery , precious stone - esque refulgence by dipping the underside of a leaf into some water and swirling it around while submerged . This is a utilitarian identification tool and also beautiful . pile of other plant life have this quality , but jewelweed convey the bar with its fish - alike multi - colored glimmers .
you may find oneself it near streams , and it is a commonly link remedy forpoison ivy . As it likes to grow in similar environments to poison ivy , one may hear folk say you may always line up a jewelweed remedy near where poison common ivy grows . I ’d say they both love smashed shady spots , but the ivy thrives in many other stead , too .
A Note About Poison Ivy
manipulation jewelweed only externally , as a slipstream . It contains fulsome corpuscle called saponin that can tie up to urushiols ( a skin rash - induce oil that ooze into one ’s peel from plants ) . I ’ve get it on mass to crush fresh jewelweed into their sandals as a way of forbid poison ivy oils as they doss through the trails where it can not be avoided .
I would never advocate crashing through any poison ivy , as it is most often find growing where land has been too often trodden . And anyway the scourge of rash alone is reason enough to respect the ivy saying , “ Stay forth , citizenry ! ”
One of my teacher called this plant sis ivy , to give more respect to this warden of abused places . Ifone has the displeasure of being forced to decimate toxicant ivy , I extremely plump for a practice of tranquil intention and communicating with the plant first follow by a good washables with lots of soap and several rinsing of cold water .
A Remedy for Poison Ivy
Intentionally treading where poison Hedera helix arise is never a expert thought . But on a dense plant raise you might not always see the warning hidden or be able to avoid it .
When you come into tangency with poison Hedera helix , it ’s always a near approximation to do the cold laundry as shortly as you notice your peel has contacted the plant . A principle of thumb is to launder about a half time of day before the crude have ooze in enough to make a rash , but I favor less than five hour !
In the Sir Henry Joseph Wood , however , without max handy , jewelweed is our friend . I crush it up with cold-blooded water system — ordinarily easy to find as jewelweed loves to grow by the creek — and do several rinsing to be safe .
A Beneficial Forage
I also bring lady’s earrings home and make a ( non - potable ) teatime , which I put it in the freezer to have on hand for the whole class . It ’s not only helpful for preventing and soothing poison ivy rash , but its soapiness can serve wash off as well as soothe the skin during many uncomfortable result involve heat , flimflam or wound .
A tea can be made with a few large handfuls or as much as you may underwrite with piss . Use the whole above - solid ground part of the plant , including foliage , stems and flower . Jewelweed is said to be particularly potent when flowering .
chop up the flora coarsely and pour boiling water over it . Let it steep until coolheaded , melody , and freeze or refrigerate . This herbal provision will be a deep reddish tint , and the fresh succus will often leave a scarlet soil on your skin . The stain , and the wretched soapy smell you sense as you express the juices of the freshly crushed works over your skin , will aid you assess when you ’ve thoroughly rinsed .
you could combine jewelweed with other herbs such as plantain , yarrow and clavus silk to make a medicated wash for irritated skin issue like rash , bug bites and scrapes . It is soothing and cool down , but , again , do n’t pledge tea or eat the parting .
Identifying Jewelweed
As cite touch-me-not flowers can be orange or yellow . The yellow blossoming jewelweed is larger and vulgar along our larger Kentucky River banks , with much larger leaves and tall plants . The orangeness flowering jewelweed tends to thrive in the smaller creeks , enshroud in woodlands and rough hillside around ephemeral flow .
It will seed itself happily in a shady garden . I like to let jewelweed grow around my porch steps so that our legs copse by it everyday . It is happy as a “ cut and add up again ” herb , forming new subdivision and flowers easy when clip respectfully . The flush are absolutely delightful and worthy of prospicient law-abiding gazes .
Jewelweed , especially the orange flowering variety , is also a favorite of hummingbird , so we get to keep an eye on these tiny birds up close visiting the patches among the Tree on our hillside .
Dry Some Jewelweed for Later
Since a fresh decoction will only last at most a week in the fridge , you may dry jewelweed and make your tea leaf when needed ( although the saucy industrial plant is considered most potent and useful ) .
To dry out , wait for the industrial plant to flower to harvest , then advert it in bunches in a newspaper liberation out of sunshine at ambient elbow room temperature with good airflow . It ’s ready to be placed into depot containers when it split up ( without crumbling to dust ) when pinched .
safe dry medicinal Impatiens capensis should hold back its non-white gullible - to - reddish hue while . If it turns too glowering and appears black , your orange balsam has oxidize and is no longer good . Similarly , if it has dried too lento , it will take on a pallid brownish - green color , which is also not proficient .
As always , be sure to have a trained botanist confirm your identification before harvest and use . And for best medical specialty be certain to sit still long enough to apprize the beauty of this gem of a industrial plant before you smash it to bits on your ankles .
