Impatiens – Impatiens walleriana

Impatiens – Bizzy Lizzy

Bizzy Lizzy as they are called in Great Britain are native to Africa. Impatiens first arrived in England in 1896, brought by Dr John Kirk (physician/naturalist). The plants love shade, but will survive more light if given sufficient water all through the season.

The common name of Impatiens is derived from the action of the seed pods. Should they be touched, or when they are fully ripe, they explode, sending the seeds for greater distances away from the plant. This is a fun game that children love; to touch and to trycatching the seeds!

The root is used to produce salep a very nutritive and soothing food for children and convalescents. One part root to 50 parts of water to make the jelly.

In ancient China, Impatiens petals were mashed with rose, orchid petals, and alum. This was then used as nail polish: after leaving the mixture on the nails for some hours, it would color them a pink to reddish hue

Orange Touch Me Not – Impatiens capensis

Orange Touch Me Not or Spotted Jewelweed

The Jewelweed plant has been used for centuries in North America by Native Americans of several different tribes, and Herbalists, as a natural preventative and treatment for poison ivy and poison oak; and is a folk remedy for many other skin disorders. The juice (sap) of the jewelweed has been used by Native Americans, and others, as a preventative against poison ivy rash, and as a treatment after the eruptions have occurred

The juice of the leaves is used externally in the treatment of piles, fungal dermatitis, nettle stings, poison ivy rash, burns etc. The sap is used to remove warts. A poultice of the leaves is applied to bruises, burns, cuts etc

If you want bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to visit, this is a great addition! As a kid it was a favorite pasttime to find a stand of these, or their cousin the Pale Jewelweed, and just stand there looking for seedheads ready to burst, and making it happen!