Honey bees
Nectar value
Low
Pollen value
Unknown
Pollinator plant
Soapwort, Bouncingbet
Saponaria officinalis
Linked agroforestry plant data
Pollinator recipe
Bee value
Who this plant supports
Agroforestry database
Complete plant information
Structure
- Vegetation layer
- Herbaceous
- Size
- Small
- Dimensions
- 1.00 m high × 1.00 m wide
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Site conditions
- USDA hardiness
- 4-8
- Moisture
- Moist
- Soil
- Sandy, Loamy, Clay
- pH
- Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
- Light
- Sun, Partial shade
Uses
- Functions
- Pollinator plant, Ground cover, Fragrant
- Edibility
- 0 out of 5
- Medicinal value
- 0 out of 5
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.