common soapwort
Saponaria officinalis
Its roots and leaves produce a natural, gentle soap lather when boiled or bruised in water, once used to clean museum-quality medieval tapestries.
- Scientific name
- Saponaria officinalis
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Caryophyllales › Caryophyllaceae › Saponaria
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Roadsides, railway banks, waste ground, and moist meadow borders.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
- Range
- Europe, Western Siberia, North America
- Size
- 30 to 90 cm tall
- Lifespan
- Perennial (rhizomes can persist for decades)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss from urban development and intensive herbicide application.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to touch. The plant contains saponins which are mildly toxic if ingested in large quantities. Safe to handle, but wash hands after contact. If ingested, monitor for stomach upset and seek medical advice if symptoms are severe.
Saponaria officinalis is a common perennial plant from the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). This plant has many common names, including common soapwort , bouncing-bet , crow soap , wild sweet William , and soapweed . There are about 20 species of soapworts altogether.
Photo: Yurii Basov, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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