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| I'm posting this in two forums in the hopes of getting an answer. When we visited relatives in Pennsylvania they showed us a native flower growing on the farm. I believe it was the seed pod that, if touched, would *POP* and startle the life out of you, even if you knew it would happen and had steeled yourself not to jump. It was a fun plant, and we'd like to grow some here, just for the scream factor.
Does anybody know what that plant is? Can we get seeds of it to wintersow? Is it invasive? Thank you! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Is it jewelweed? Some kind of impatiens, but can't remember off the top of my head. I'm constantly pulling this as a weed in my wet gardens. Yikes. I don't know if it's technically "invasive" but again, in the wet spots in my yard it grows with wild abandon! :) |
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- Posted by chestnutpatrick 7 (chestnutpatrick@hotmail.com) on Sat, Oct 2, 10 at 18:25
| balsam impatiens? |
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| Sounds like Touch Me Not, or Jewelweed. As a kid, I loved making the seed pods pop open with a light touch. I was easily amused. lol! I believe it's a member of the impatiens family. Karen |
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| There are a few North American natives in the "touch-me-not" family .... impatiens capensis (orange jewelweed), impatiens noli-tangere (western touch-me-not), impatiens pallida (pale touch-me-not), impatiens aurelia (pale yellow touch-me-not), impatiens ecalcarata (spurless touch-me-not). They're all annuals (I think), but with the seeds popping all over the place, there shouldn't be a problem keeping them going year after year. I've read that they need a cold/moist period to germinate, so they would be excellent candidates for WSing. Invasive? I suppose it could be, but you could keep those popping seeds in check, or be ready to pull up seedlings when you see them. I've seen seeds sold at Prairie Moon, but there must be other places where they are sold. (You didn't get any seeds from your relatives?) PV |
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- Posted by pitimpinai z6 Chicago (My Page) on Sat, Oct 2, 10 at 19:58
| Arggg! Who wants Jewelweed in your garden? :-( A plant showed up in mine long ago. Now each year I have a gazillion seedlings popping up all over the garden. No matter how many I pull out each spring, many will still escape my notice and reseed all over anyway. At least they are not as difficult to pull as bindweed or chickweed. |
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- Posted by deanna_in_nh 5a/4b (My Page) on Sat, Oct 2, 10 at 21:07
| pivck, one of those latin names tickles me! Impatiens noli-tangere is so appropriate because "Noli tangere" is Latin for "Don't touch!" We're learning a small bit of Latin, and sometimes I have to tell my 4-yo "Noli tangere!" What a perfect name for the plant! I would love to plant that one, just for the laugh factor we all would have! Thanks for all the responses. Considering their multiplication abilities (gee, plants that are good at Latn and Math!) maybe I can plant just one so we could have some fun and manage the babies. |
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| Hi, I have Impatiens Balsamina. If you haven't received some yet, I'll send you some. Send me your mailing address. If you still have catnip seeds I'll trade you. Thanks, Jen |
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- Posted by glad2garden 5, Chicopee, Mass (My Page) on Thu, Oct 14, 10 at 11:29
| I love jewelweed! It attracts hummingbirds like crazy!!! |
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