That was awfully nice of GW to delete my post asking if the plant she was asking about was the one that was used as a poison ivy cure. Many people do use more than one common name, ya know. Geez. I was only asking to clarify that this was the plant she wanted. I'd hate to offer the wrong plants... I have thousands and thousands and thousands of Jewelweed growing in my horse pasture and up at where I work. How many do you want? Just send me an email.

Your welcome, I was thinking about trying them myself, so I had the links in my favorites. I see them growing wild around here, but always thought of them as a weed. Until I found out hummers like them!

Jewelweed, both Impatiens capensis (orange flowers) and the very similar Impatiens pallida (pale yellow flowers), are available from Elk Ridge Natureworks. Elk Ridge is in far western Maryland (Garret County) and does not sell by mail order, but they do participate in many plant shows and sales. Here is their contact information: Elk Ridge NatureWorks, LLC 283 Elk Ridge Lane Grantsville, MD 21536 tel. 301-895-3686 info@elkridgenatureworks.com plant list for Elk Ridge NatureWorks: http://www.elkridgenatureworks.com/prod01.htm participating plant shows: http://www.elkridgenatureworks.com/products.htm In addition (if you prefer mail order), Impatiens pallida is available from: Doyle Farm Nursery 158 Norris Road Delta, PA 17314 tel. 717-862-3134 jld@doylefarm.com plant list: http://www.doylefarm.com/catalog.html Both these nurseries carry Aquilegia canadensis, which is one of our most popular native wildflowers. Pretty much all native plant specialist nurseries and most well-stocked retail nurseries will have it. On varieties: Aquilegia canadensis is the one and only columbine species native to the eastern US and the mid-Atlantic region. There are a number of named cultivars; my impression is that differences in flower form and color among these are subtle. Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis/pallida) and Aquilegia canadensis have rather different preferred habitats. Jewelweed prefers moist to wet soil in shade, and can grow in swampy conditions; in other words, it does not demand "well drained". Aquilegia prefers well-drained soil in light to full shade and is especially good for "rocky woods, slopes, cliffs, ledges". However, Aquilegia canadensis is easier to grow in "average" garden conditions in our region than the many western US columbine species. (I checked information on the Aquilegia genus at USDA plants database. In addition to A. canadensis, the only eastern US species, there are 20 western US species, and one introduced European (A. vulgaris).)

Children love jewelweed too, because when they pinch the ripe seed pod it explodes and sends seeds flying several feet in all directions. And since jewelweed is an annual, it wouldn't hurt to have fresh seed scattered about if you want jewelweed plants again next year. Or you can let a seed pod explode inside an envelope and save some seeds to plant elsewhere.