Common Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is in the balsam family family (Balsaminaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 14,357 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in September.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Common Jewelweed: observations by month (U.S.)
About Common Jewelweed
Impatiens capensis, the orange jewelweed, common jewelweed, spotted jewelweed, spotted touch-me-not, or orange balsam, is an annual plant native to North America. It is common in bottomland soils, ditches, and along creeks, often growing side-by-side with its less common relative, Yellow Jewelweed (I. pallida).From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Common Jewelweed by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1,498 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 1,090 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Ohio | 1,074 | September | Aug–Sep |
| North Carolina | 998 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Vermont | 985 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 801 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Kentucky | 674 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Virginia | 615 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Minnesota | 560 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Maine | 495 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 483 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Indiana | 468 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Michigan | 439 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Illinois | 422 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Maryland | 412 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Washington | 408 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New Jersey | 379 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Tennessee | 321 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Connecticut | 291 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 288 | August | Aug–Sep |
| West Virginia | 260 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Georgia | 220 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Oregon | 198 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Alabama | 174 | September | May–Oct |
| Delaware | 146 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Arkansas | 111 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Missouri | 104 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Iowa | 90 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Mississippi | 81 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Rhode Island | 77 | August | Aug–Sep |
| South Carolina | 65 | September | Aug–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 57 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Louisiana | 24 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Kansas | 11 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Nebraska | 10 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Colorado | 9 | September | Sep–Sep |
| South Dakota | 7 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Idaho | 6 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 6 | July | Jul–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (balsam family)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Common Jewelweed?
Nationally, September has the most observations, with the main season from July to September.
Where is Common Jewelweed most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio.