Saponaria officinalis (Soapwort)

Saponaria officinalis (Soapwort)
(photo by: Kathy)
Status: Identified
Number of comments: 4
Note: This plant was growing at my Grandmother's home in Southeastern Kentucky. I was able to root it and have moved rootings to 2 different locations but the rooting was difficult. It's blooms start out white but have a pinkish cast to them. It can get quite leggy and it sprawls. This picture was taken today - I loped it off at the beginning of June and this is how it looks now. Can someone please identify this for me as I have had no luck at our local nurseries in Hampton, VA.

Try our Vista sidebar gadget.

Comments

That looks like a plant I have grown, a double form of Bouncing Bet Soapwort: Saponaria officinalis 'Rosea Plena'. Pioneers used mashed roots or leaves and stems of soapwort as soap. It is a sprawling plant, but has an interesting fragrance on a hot summer evening and it is certainly tough and easy to grow. Mine was always pale pink.

laelialee on 7/29/2008 9:36:13 AM

I agree with you. All except the Rosea Plena, of course, as this one is white. I definitely agree with Soapwort though.

sherryl on 7/29/2008 12:14:36 PM

This is my plant - it turns light pink after the sun hits it. I would have never thought of Soapwort but after the looking at the pictures on the web now I tend to agree with you. Web says it has a taproot so perhaps that's why it's been so hard to propagate?

Anonymous on 7/29/2008 12:55:38 PM

I never tried to propagate it. I bought one plant from mailorder and it spread happiy anywhere I allowed it to grow.

laelialee on 8/2/2008 10:57:32 AM

Add a comment:

Name (optional):

Gotta plant that you can't identify?

Note:

Photo:

* Use this Image Converter to make uploading photos quicker and images more web friendly.

Email: (optional if you want to receive an email when people post a comment)

Name (optional):

Do you want to be notified when anyone comments on this plant? Type in your email and click 'Go'. Notifications are on a per plant basis to reduce spam - Patrick

subscribeunsubscribe

Recent plants


by: sherryl Date: 8/18/2008 5:31:37 PM Comments: 9
by: reynolds Date: 8/16/2008 3:46:23 PM Comments: 12
by: Jessica Date: 8/13/2008 1:54:14 PM Comments: 4
by: donnanellah Date: 8/13/2008 9:40:04 AM Comments: 7
by: Anonymous Date: 8/13/2008 5:58:58 AM Comments: 5

Pages 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

Acceptable use policy | Privacy policy | Contact