They germinate like crazy in my damp spot by hose, around hydrangeas! Damp soil, and I think seeds need to sit on top for light, to germinate. They are easy to pull out, so I have just a few plants, flowered last month, but re-budded now. So if I get seeds, I'll bring to fall swap. If not, seedlings for you in spring for sure. My first plant was given to me by a fellow gardener, who pulled out a handfull from her garden, stuck them in grocery bag, and I repotted limp, lifeless things 5 hrs later - half revived. I think wet is the key. They sure are pretty for natives.

Kathy, I posted the thread & thought if one of the Native Plants Society sold it to me for $3 or $4 a plant, it must be 'safe' to have and to share with others at the trade. My frst yr with the plant, it only produced a few plants for the yr after (I also did collect the seeds that yr.) Last year I didn't collect the seeds & they are every way under the mother plants this yr. So yes, they are intrusive if you don't like them & let them go to seeds. But then my cleomes, four o'clocks, morning glories and balsam impatience produce many seedlings too. So it would be interesting to hear others' thoughts on this matter... They call it 'touch me not' because the stems break easily. Just by a touch or if you brush by them, they can break off easily. Appearantly you can use the plant to treat poison ivy... that's what i read anyway...

Anybody have any luck growing the yellow one, I. pallida? I have the orange one naturally in the Piedmont but would also like to have the yellow one. I see it in the mts. in NC and have even tried to get it started here, but with no luck. Any suggestions...other than more rain or cooler weather.

I have not been able to grow the wild jewel weed which herbalists use for poison ivy in our Montana climate.I am not sure if it is growable in Colorado either since it is prefers the humidity of the eastern states and another likes the humidity on the western coast.. It is an impatien,, not sure if there any substitute for it in our drier climate or not..In the other hand my son who lives in Poison ivy land keeps a bottle of it from the local health food store just for the poison ivy..I would ask at a local nursery or call an herbalist they always know what grows around their areas..