Orange Balsam

Although we have lived in this area for more than three decades, I had never seen the Orange Balsam (Impatiens capensis) in bloom before! This native plant grows in shady moist ground, near creeks and rivers. It can spread to large colonies, and we spotted two such areas, one at Jackson Bottom Wetlands and the other at Noble Woods Park in Hillsboro (6/28/2013).

It's easy to miss the tiny orange flowers because they hide under the leaves! These plants were exported to Europe in the 19th century. The Impatiens name comes from the seeds. When the seed pods are dried, they explode when touched, thus dispersing many seeds. For this reason the plant is called "touch me not" in some countries.