Plant Details

Saponaria officinalis

Soapwort, Bouncingbet

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Common names

51 names · 33 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Bladder Soapwort[2]
  • bouncing bet[2]
  • bouncing-bet[2]
+10 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (32)
Dutch
  • Gewoon zeepkruid
  • Zeepkruid[2]
French
  • Saponaire officinale[2]
Afrikaans
  • akkerkoeikruid[2]
Belarusian
  • Мыльнік лекавы[2]
Bulgarian
  • Лечебно сапунче[2]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Croatian
  • Ljekovita sapunjača[2]
Czech
  • mydlice lékařská[2]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik seebilill[2]
Finnish
  • Rohtosuopayrtti[2]
German
  • Gewöhnliches Seifenkraut[1][2]
Greek
  • Αγριογλυκόχορτο[2]
  • Καλοστρούθι[2]
  • Σαπουνόχορτο[2]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Στρούθιον[2]
  • Της γάτας το σαπούνι[2]
Hungarian
  • orvosi szappanfű[2]
Italian
Japanese
  • サボンソウ[2]
Korean
Latvian
  • Ārstniecības ziepjusakne[2]
Lithuanian
  • Vaistinis putoklis[2]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Mydlnica lekarska[2]
Portuguese
  • Erva-saboeira[2]
  • Erva-sabão[2]
Russian
  • Мыльнянка лекарственная[2]
Slovak
  • mydlica lekárska[2]
Slovenian
  • navadna milnica[2]
Spanish
Swedish
  • såpnejlika[2]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Мильнянка лікарська[2]
Welsh
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Saponaria officinalis L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Gewöhnliches Seifenkraut (DE); Soapwort (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 149483; taxon 6XL6Y.
[2] Saponaria officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • common soapwort — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Zeepkruid — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • bouncing-bet — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Saponaria — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Gewöhnliches Seifenkraut — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • bouncing bet — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Soapwort — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Erva-saboeira — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Мыльнянка лекарственная — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Erva-sabão — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Saponaire officinale — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Saponaria — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • mydlice lékařská — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • såpnejlika — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • サボンソウ — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Vaistinis putoklis — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Sæbeurt — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • harilik seebilill — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Rohtosuopayrtti — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • såpeurt — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Mydlnica lekarska — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Лечебно сапунче — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • mydlica lekárska — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • 肥皂草 — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Ljekovita sapunjača — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • sabonera — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Σαπουνόχορτο — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Καλοστρούθι — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Στρούθιον — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Αγριογλυκόχορτο — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Της γάτας το σαπούνι — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Мильнянка лікарська — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Мыльнік лекавы — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • akkerkoeikruid — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Bladder Soapwort — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • China Cockle — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Cow Basil — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Cow Foot — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Cow Herb — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Cow Soapwort — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Glond — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • spring cockle — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • navadna milnica — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Ārstniecības ziepjusakne — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • orvosi szappanfű — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • 비누풀 — results[0].names[47]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Sabunotu — results[0].names[48]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • Sebonllys — results[0].names[49]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.
  • 肥皂草 — results[0].names[50]; taxon id 56154; Saponaria officinalis.

General information

Scientific name: Saponaria officinalis
Accepted name (Kew): Saponaria officinalis L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Caryophyllaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Saponaria (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Soapwort, Bouncingbet
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.3–0.76 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.3–0.46 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous
Growth habit: Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Alkaline (>8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
-
Edibility rating:
(0)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Bee forage, Ground cover, Fragrant

Description

A soap can be obtained by boiling the whole plant (especially the root) in water. It is a mild, effective cleaner, mainly used on delicate fabrics that may be damaged by modern synthetic soaps (it has been used to clean the Bayeux tapestry). It gives a shine to the fabric. The best soap is obtained by steeping the plant in warm water. The roots can be dried and stored for later use. The plant is sometimes recommended as a shampoo for hair, although it can cause irritation to the eyes. The plant spreads vigorously and can be used as ground cover when planted about 1 meter apart.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 595024; name ID 2484932; Saponaria L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 217579; name ID 2484914; Saponaria officinalis L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Saponaria officinalis

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2438601, ID 6XL6Y: Saponaria officinalis L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Saponaria officinalis — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .