Again, another message. I have a wildflower that grows on my property in profusion, seems to love the shady areas. I took pics of it last summer, but have lost them somewhere on my computer. Ooops. This plant is very tall and spindly, it will fall over if you even touch it, but grows so thickly that the plants support each other. It has hollow stems, with many small orange flowers that look very similar to a snapdragon. The bees absolutely love it and it grows long into the middle of October, hence lots of pollen/nectar for the plants when these food sources are getting sparse. This beautiful plant self-seeds everywhere. Before I began to keep bees I would smash it down all the time because it was so invasive. But now I will just let it grow. Thank goodness it likes the shade so it does grow in my yard, but all along the southern perimeter of my property which has many evergrees alongside which provides tons of shade and moisture. Can anyone shed a guess as to what this mystery flower is?
Thank you Eric LaFortune for your guess about this wildflower that I described. I am familiar with the impatiens family, and this is not even close to what I have growing on my property that self-seeds so prolificly. This flower I have growing has orange blossoms that resemble a miniature snapdragon. Very pretty. Very tall, probably 4-5 feet, loves shadey moist areas, very sparse leaves and stalks. I do wish that the pics that I took of this plant last fall were not lost somewhere, I may be able to find them at some point in time, or just simply wait until summer brings these flowers on. They are wonderful, in that they bloom all summer long until the frost kill. I have searched through all my horticultural books and have never seen any plant that even comes close. Thanks. Cindi
Indeed Impatiens Capensis. I looked on the internet and found the picture there even more pretty than I remember these flowers to be. Thank you. It is nice to know that I finally know the name of the species. A person in my area also responded and gave the same name as you did. He is very interested in obtaining seed from this plant and has been searching everywhere for it. Hence I shall gather some soil for him that would bear the seeds within and keep it in cold storage, or if he is patient enough I will gather seed later on in the summer. Thank you again. Cindi
Also known as jewelweed. The sap of which was used by the Indians to alleviate mosquito bites and poison ivy infection. Also read recently that impatiens (impatient) gets it's name from the explosive dispersal of the seed when contact is made with the seed pod. The other common name, touch-me-not for I. capensis, also refers to this. Harry
Thanks Harry, a couple of people have helped identify impatiens capensis. I had a good look over the internet and indeed this is the glorious plant growing here so invasively and loved by me and my bees. Cindi
Yes: invasively. You might want to at least check on the legal status of this species in your area (down here we have a Noxious Weed Control Board) before helping to spread it.
Thanks, I will check and see if this is an obnoxious weed. Certainly hope not, as it grows happily and I think if bees love it, it shouldn't be doing any harm hopefully. Cindi
