Jewelweed Pain Relief for Stinging Nettle and Poison Ivy

Take the sting out of stinging nettle and itch out of poison ivy with the help of Jewelweed.

This North American native plant can be found growing in moist partially sunny areas like moist woodlands, floodplains, woodland edges, swamps, and roadside ditches.  It is a member of the touch-me-not family that includes the popular shade tolerant bedding plant, impatiens.

This wetland plant grows 2 to 5 feet tall in moist soils and partially shaded areas. It has orange flowers with darker orange spots. You’ll find hummingbirds and bees enjoying the flower’s nectar.

Gently touch the mature seedpods in fall and watch the seeds shoot out into the surrounding area. This is how the plant disperses it seeds into new locations.

Hikers, gardeners and outdoorsman have used the sap of jewelweed to sooth the pain of stinging nettle and poison ivy. The sap has also been used to treat athlete’s feet.

A bit more information: You may occasionally see swallowtail butterflies visiting the flowers of jewelweed. Watch for the caterpillars of several moths feeding on the leaves and a variety of game birds that feast upon the seeds.

Tags

butterflies bees shade-plants poison-ivy hummingbirds woodland moisture-loving jewelweed

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