Short Description
Common soapwort can grow to a height of 90 cm.
The leaves are opposite and lance-shaped.
The stem is generally unbranched and erect with highly branched underground runners. It is softly haired and densely leaved.
The flowers are pink and have five petals. The sepals are fused to an elongated tube.
The fruit is a dry, four-toothed capsule.
Features
Common soapwort
Saponaria officinalis
large pink flowers
Similar species
In the city
In an urban environment, common soapwort is frequently found in rail track ballast and on uncultivated land. It prefers fresh, semi-shaded sites rich in nutrients with stony, sandy or gravelly soil.
It is a synanthrope (living near or benefiting from an association with humans) and has been able to spread since the Neolithic Period.
Fun Facts
Its medicinal use is in the treatment of respiratory tract infections.
There is an ornamental variety with filled flowers.
It flowers from June to October.
It lives for several years and generally flowers and fruits annually (perennial plant).
- Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
Common soapwort was formerly used as a detergent.
Sources
Habitus, Javier martin, Gemeinfrei, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saponaria_officinalis_Habitus_2011-7-31_SierraMadrona.jpg
Blüten, TeunSpaans, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saponaria-officinalis-flower.jpg
Blätter, Rüdiger Kratz, St. Ingbert, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gew%C3%B6hnliches-Seifenkraut_Bl%C3%A4tter_6036.jpg
Spohn, M., Golte-Bechtle, M. & Spohn, R. (2015) Was blüht denn da? Stuttgart: Franckh Kosmos Verlag.
Schauer, T., Caspari, C. & Caspari, S. (2015) Der illustrierte BLV-Pflanzenführer für unterwegs. 1150 Blumen, Gräser, Bäume und Sträucher, München: BLV.
Scherf, G. (2006) Wildpflanzen neu entdecken, München: BLV.
Page „Gewöhnliches Seifenkraut“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 18.10.2016, 20:53 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gew%C3%B6hnliches_Seifenkraut&oldid=158871825 (Accessed: 24.11.2016).
Bundesamt für Naturschutz (n.d.) Artensteckbriefe, URL: http://floraweb.de/pflanzenarten/artenhome.xsql?suchnr=5241& (Accessed: 24.11.2016).