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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Achillea millefolium Achillea millefolium
Phlox maculata Form in native habitat
Phlox paniculata Phlox paniculata

Soapwort Saponaria officinalis

Other 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

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:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#poisonous#full sun tolerant#white flowers#pink flowers#summer flowers#pollinator plant#wildflower garden#foot traffic tolerant#roadside#perennial#herb garden
 
Flowers
Flowers Gail Hampshire CC BY 2.0
Flowers close up.
Flowers close up. Joan Simon CC-BY-SA 2.0
Form
Form Teun Spaans CC BY-SA 3.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#poisonous#full sun tolerant#white flowers#pink flowers#summer flowers#pollinator plant#wildflower garden#foot traffic tolerant#roadside#perennial#herb garden
  • 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
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herb
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Wildflower
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Pink
    White
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    Flowers in a terminal cluster with tubular calyx, 5-parted.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Simple, smooth margin. Palmately veined. 2-3" pairs of broadly lance-shaped leaves that have 3-5 ribs.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Pollinator Garden
    Attracts:
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Foot Traffic
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Saponic glycoside
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Roots
    Seeds