Saponaria officinalis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sap-oh-NAIR-ee-ah oh-fiss-ih-NAH-liss
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Soapwort is also called "Bouncing Bet" and "Lady by the garden gate" it is native of Europe that has naturalized. The plants are often are seen growing along roadsides, waste places, and railroad tracks and are considered weedy by some. In the landscape under cultivation, it is an upright pretty perennial with pink, rose or white clusters of flowers. Soapworts get their name because they contain saponins in the plant sap which lathers when used for washing. It tolerates light foot traffic.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Saponaria
- Species:
- officinalis
- Family:
- Caryophyllaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Leaf Cutting
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Caucasus
- Distribution:
- Naturalized throughout many parts of the United States and North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies and moths.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- A small cluster of flowers appear at the top of the stem. The flower measures about 1-inch across and have 5 notched petals in shades of pink to white. Behind the flower is a slender, 1-inch long, tubular calyx that is light green to reddish and has 5 short teeth.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, smooth margin. Palmately veined. 2-3" pairs of broadly lance-shaped leaves that have 3-5 ribs.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are erect and smooth. The stems may be reddish tinged.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Foot Traffic
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
