General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 2 -45.6 °C (-50 °F) to -42.8 °C (-45°F)
Plant Height: 18-30 inches (45-80cm)
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Flower Color: Lavender
Pink
White
Bloom Size: Under 1"
1"-2"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Underground structures: Rhizome
Uses: Medicinal Herb
Will Naturalize
Wildlife Attractant: Butterflies
Propagation: Seeds: Stratify seeds: Sow and keep for 2-4 weeks at 65-70 degrees F (18-22 degrees C), then for 6-8 weeks at 25-40 degrees F (-4 to 4 degrees C), and finally at 50 degrees F (10 degrees C) for germination.
Suitable for wintersowing
Sow in situ
Can handle transplanting
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Pollinators: Moths and Butterflies
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger

Image
Common names
  • Soapwort
  • Bouncing Bet
  • Soapweed
  • Goodbye Summer
  • Lady-by-the-Gate

Photo Gallery
Location: My Garden, Utah
Date: 2014-07-20
invading from the wild edge
Location: Hoffman, NC 
Date: June 27, 2022
Soapwort #254. RAB page 446, 71-15-1. AG page 83, "Name from 'sap
Location: Muiderslot Castle Garden
Date: 2021-07-27
Location: Hoffman, NC 
Date: June 27, 2022
Soapwort #254. RAB page 446, 71-15-1. AG page 83, "Name from 'sap
Location: Prince Edward Island
Date: August 2018
Location: Muiderslot Castle Garden
Date: 2021-07-27
Location: IL
Date: 2010-07-09
Location: Prince Edward Island
Date: August 2018

photo credit: H. Zell

Date: 2020-04-18
Location: Kyle, Texas
Date: 2018-05-01
A pretty as well as useful plant--it really does make a gentle so

photo credit: H. Zell
Location: Indiana zone 5
Date: 2015-06-26
Location: Kyle
Date: 2018-06-28
You'll get plenty of small seeds
Location: Columbus, OH
Date: 2002

Date: 2005
photo by Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-06-10

photo credit: H. Zell
Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-05-17
Location: Test garden
Location: Indiana  Zone 5
Date: 2012-07-25
unripe seed pods

photo by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Location: my brother's garden, Vichte, Belgium
Date: 2012-07-22
Location: my brother's garden, Vichte, Belgium
Date: 2012-07-22
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by Sharon (Calvert City, KY - Zone 7a) on Dec 3, 2011 10:09 AM concerning plant:
    This plant is rich in saponins, natural cleaning agents. It also has a long history as a medicinal plant and is still considered a popular home remedy for poison ivy, probably because it thoroughly cleanses the skin. The leaves and rhizomes boiled in pure water makes a highly effective soapy lather for cleaning and brightening delicate fabrics.
  • Posted by Johannian (The Black Hills, SD - Zone 4b) on Jan 11, 2022 8:46 PM concerning plant:
    Range: most frequent in California, Oregon, and Washington.
  • Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on May 25, 2013 1:40 AM concerning plant:
    "Common Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) is a vespertine flower, and a common perennial plant from the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). Other common names are Bouncing Bet, Sweet William, and soapweed.

    The plant possesses leafy, unbranched stems (often tinged with red). It grows in patches, attaining a height of 70 cm. The broad, lanceolate, sessile leaves are opposite and between 4 and 12 cm long. Its sweetly scented flowers are radially symmetrical and pink, or sometimes white. Each of the five flat petals have two small scales in the throat of the corolla. They are about 2.5 cm wide. They are arranged in dense, terminal clusters on the main stem and its branches. The long tubular calyx has five pointed red teeth.

    In the northern hemisphere soapwort blooms from May to September, and in the southern hemisphere October to March.

    As the name implies, it can be used as a very gentle soap, usually in dilute solution. It has historically been used to clean delicate or unique textiles; it has been hypothesized that the plant was used to treat the Shroud of Turin.

    A lathery liquid that has the ability to dissolve fats or grease can be procured by boiling the leaves or roots in water. Take a large handful of leaves, bruise and chop them and boil for 30 minutes in 1 pint/600ml of water; strain off the liquid and use this as you would washing-up liquid."

    Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C...

Plant Events from our members
antsinmypants On April 27, 2021 Seeds sown
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WebTucker On June 27, 2022 Bloomed
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