| Description | Soapwort (Saponaria ocymoides) is an easy to grow ground perennial cover perennial producing masses of small pink flowers in June. The stems are tumbling and sprawling. |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | (sap-oh-NA-ri-ah)(oh-ke-MOI-deez) |
| Plant Type | Perennials Hardy, Site author's observations |
| Hardiness Zone | 2-7 |
| Sunlight | full sun |
| Moisture | average |
| Soil & Site | average, well drained, never poorly drained |
| Temperature | Prefers cool climates to hot climates. |
| Flowers | Small pink flowers are produced in mass. Held above the plant in loose sprays called cymes. Flower season begins in June. |
| Stems | A trailing plant that will hang over walls and clamber over rocks. Forms thick colonies of tangled stems and roots. |
| Dimensions | Reaches 6 inches tall and should be spaced 12-18 inches on center. |
| Maintenance | Needs to be cut back after flowering to control the spread and induce new growth. |
| Propagation | easy from seeds, cuttings |
| Native Site | Native to the European Alps. |
| Misc Facts | The genus Saponaria derives from the Latin sapo, meaning soap. The plant's juice contains saponin, which produces suds and dissolves fats and oils. Being used as a cleaning agent has given it many other names, such as latherwort, scourwort, bruise wort, soap root, etc. It also was used in homemade toothpaste and shampoos. AKA: Bouncing Betty, Sweet Betty, Hedge Pink, Latherwort, Scourwort, Bruise Wort, Soap Root, Tumbling Ted |
| Author's Notes | This plant is easy to grow from seed and as the description states it is a tumbling sprawling plant. |
| Notes & Reference | #04-Herbaceous Perennial Plants (Allan Armitage), #14-Hedge maids and Fairy Candles (Jack Sanders), #40-Herbaceous Ornamental Plants (Steven Stills), #274-Site Authors' observations and growing experiences |
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