The round stems are glabrous (smooth) and succulent,[7] and semi-translucent, with swollen or darkened nodes on some plants.

[12] Impatiens capensis was transported in the 19th and 20th centuries to England, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Finland, and potentially other areas of northern and central Europe.

[citation needed] In the State of Washington, I. capensis is considered a class-C noxious weed due to its rapid spread and tendency to outcompete native jewelweeds.

[14] The young shoots can be boiled (with two changes of water) as a potherb; eating too much is not recommended as the plant contains calcium oxalate crystals.

[10] Along with other species of jewelweed, the juice of the leaves and stems is a traditional Native American remedy for skin rashes, including poison ivy.

[16][17] The effectiveness of its use to prevent the development of a rash after short-term exposure to poison ivy has been supported by peer-reviewed study, and is likely due to the plant containing saponins.

Another possible source of the name is the color and shape of the bright robin's egg-blue kernels of the green projectile seeds.

[citation needed] Both the genus name Impatiens ("impatience" in Latin) and common name spotted touch-me-not refer to how its seeds when ripe pop open on touch.