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Finding "Lady Slippers" (Impatiens capensis / Balsam): Seed-Popping Annuals

A gardener from Chicago, now in central Illinois, seeks "Lady Slippers"—not orchids. Flowers under leaves, seed pods pop when touched, reseed profusely.

Identification: Impatiens capensis (Jewelweed / Touch-Me-Not)

Or possibly Impatiens balsamina (Garden Balsam). Both have explosive seed pods.

Resources

Note

These are native annuals, not perennials. They self-sow aggressively in moist shade.

Perennials: Falling Oriental Poppies: Wind Damage, Not Root Issues; Canterbury Bells, Zinnias, and Long-Lived Indoor Flowers; Reviving Stressed Perennials After Early Frost and Drought: Safe Transplanting Practices; Anthurium as National Flower: No Country Claims It; Calla Lily Flower Fading: When to Cut and Whether to Save Seeds; Why Young Hellebores Won't Bloom: Patience, Light, and Fertilizer Balance; Lilac Pruning Guide: After Bloom, Lightly, Remove Suckers, Rejuvenate in Thirds; Winterizing Lantana, Roses, and Crepe Myrtle in Wilmington, NC; Creating Black and Gold Leis: Flower Options and Dyeing Techniques; Why Flower Delivery Services in Melbourne and Sydney Are a Smart Choice

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