Pale Jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) is in the balsam family family (Balsaminaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,619 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Pale Jewelweed: observations by month (U.S.)
About Pale Jewelweed
Impatiens pallida (pale jewelweed, pale touch-me-not or yellow jewelweed) is a flowering plant native to Canada and the United States. It grows in moist to wet soils, generally alongside the closely related Impatiens capensis, producing flowers from midsummer through fall. Along with other species of jewelweed or "touch-me-not", it is a traditional remedy for skin rashes, although controlled studies have not shown efficacy for this purpose.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Pale Jewelweed by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 588 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Ohio | 437 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 387 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Vermont | 316 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New York | 312 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Indiana | 201 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Kentucky | 189 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Virginia | 178 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Minnesota | 170 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Illinois | 148 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 104 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Tennessee | 100 | August | Jul–Oct |
| West Virginia | 97 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 77 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Maryland | 74 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Iowa | 54 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Michigan | 45 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Connecticut | 27 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Missouri | 26 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Delaware | 15 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Arkansas | 13 | June | May–Aug |
| District of Columbia | 11 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Maine | 11 | August | Aug–Aug |
| New Jersey | 10 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Georgia | 9 | August | Jul–Aug |
| New Hampshire | 7 | August | Aug–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 Pale Jewelweed?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from July to September.
Where is Pale Jewelweed most often seen?
The most observations come from North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania.