Wildflower
Jewelweed is a native Missouri annual that brings an unexpected splash of color to shady, wet corners of the garden where few other flowers dare to bloom. This plant grows 2 to 5 feet tall on delicate, watery stems, producing hanging clusters of orange to orange-yellow flowers spotted with reddish-brown throughout the summer months. Hardy in zones 2 through 11, it thrives in the boggy, humus-rich soils of low woodlands and stream banks, yet adapts readily to rain gardens and other moisture-heavy sites. The flowers are unmistakably beautiful, dangling from leaf axils on slender stalks like tiny lanterns, and they attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and birds with reliable generosity. Jewelweed's tendency to self-seed prolifically means once established, it often returns year after year, gradually forming the large, lush colonies it naturally creates in the wild.
Partial Shade
Moderate
2-11
60in H x 30in W
Annual
Moderate
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Orange to orange-yellow flowers with reddish-brown spotting dangle from weak, watery stems throughout summer, each bloom a delicate cornucopia shape that hummingbirds find irresistible. Unlike most annuals, jewelweed actually thrives in conditions most gardeners consider challenging: heavy shade, clay soil, and persistently wet ground. The plant is nearly bulletproof once you give it the moisture it craves, with no serious insect or disease problems to worry about, and its tendency to self-seed means you'll likely never need to replant it again.
Jewelweed is primarily valued as an ornamental annual for rain gardens and other water-retentive landscapes. Its true strength lies in restoring color and movement to shady, wet areas of the garden that challenge conventional plants. The reliable summer bloom and pollinator attraction make it an excellent choice for naturalizing in areas prone to seasonal flooding or constant moisture, where its self-seeding habit creates increasingly robust colonies over time.
No care instructions available yet for this variety.
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“Jewelweed is a Missouri native, naturally occurring in the boggy, shady areas that define the state's low woodlands, thickets, stream banks, and swampy regions. This plant represents the kind of overlooked native that thrives in the exact ecological niche most gardeners struggle to fill. Its presence in those challenging, wet, deeply shaded corners reflects its evolutionary history as a plant perfectly adapted to riparian zones and transitional wetlands across eastern North America.”