Seeing something zip through the garden, Sarah Chen saw a flash of ruby-red. As a retired teacher, she remembers the last time she saw a hummingbird in her neighborhood. It had been almost 10 years. What was the secret to their return? A neglected native plant that most see as an eyesore to the garden: the jewelweed.
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Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) has what hummingbirds need. Their nectar-rich orange flowers are shaped for hummingbird feeding. Little lantern-like orange spotted flowers hang from fleshy stems and are more rewarding in nectar per flower than many garden plants, some even marketed for hummingbirds.
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"I'd seen hummingbirds at these flowers as much as twenty times in an hour." Chen says while pointing at the patch of jewelweed on her fence line. "They will pick these over my pricey feeders every time."
The Suburban Comeback Story
Some suburbs that have native plants like jewleweed, have also experienced a rise in the number of hummingbirds. Why is this plant so special? Timing and placement!
From July to October, Jewelweed is blooming at the same time hummingbirds require extra energy for their migration journey. It attracts migratory hummingbirds as they fuel up for their long journey. Jewelweed is great for planting in those difficult to fill partially shady spots where typical garden flowers do not thrive. Jewelweed can be planted in the undersused spaces in between houses and under trees where suburban wildlife tends to gather.
Dismantling the 'Weed' Stereotype
Dr. Maria Rodriguez, an urban wildlife specialist I worked with for this project, states, \"Most people are not able to appreciate the beauty of the plant beyond the ‘weed’ label.\" Rodriguez describes jewelweed as \“beautiful if you look closely.\" Jewelweed gets its name from its leaf structure that causes water to bead on the leaf surface like \“mercury.\”
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The plant is also called, "Touch-Me-Not." This comes from the fun nature of its seed pods which burst open when touched. Children love the pods. However, it helps to disperse seeds as far as four feet away. The natural distribution of seeds explains why some gardeners have viewed them as invasive.
Designing a Personal Hummingbird Haven
Looking to attract hummingbirds with jewelweed? The good news is, this is a really easy plant to grow. This plant actually loves those difficult, wet, shady spots where many garden centers try to get you to spend a lot of money on expensive shade-tolerant landscaping.
I have found that the secret is in where you let the plant grow. Let jewelweed colonize fence lines or the edges of your property, where the plant's height (about 3-5 feet) will act as a natural screen. The orange flowers are a nice contrast to most garden plants and provide a good habitat for wildlife.
Beyond Hummingbirds
Jewelweed is an incredible plants in our suburbs. Jewelweed attracts bees and butterflies. In the fall, the seeds of Jewelweed will feed songbirds. Also, the dense foliage provides shelter for small birds and beneficial insects. Of course, the most spectacular visitors are the hummingbirds.
Jewelweed is important because it changes how we perceive suburban landscapes. As Chen states, \\"Sometimes the plants we\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'ve been taught to remove are exactly what our wildlife needs to thrive.\\"
Suburbanites are creating ‘mini bridges’ with jewelweed patches along manicured lawns and conversion zones. These patches allow wildlife, including hummingbirds, to traverse otherwise hostile environments. Given today’s habitat destruction and climate crisis, it’s likely that these informal sanctuaries are providing more ecological value than they first appear to offer.
With a little understanding, any homeowner can tap into the magic of this often misjudged plant to attract hummingbirds to their homes. The best additions to your garden don't always come from the garden store. They're often found outside, in the ignored parts of your yard.
