5 Soapwort, Rock Soapwort Seeds - Saponaria ocymoides Seeds - Perennial

Saponaria ocymoides Seeds

Soapwort, Rock Soapwort

Rock Soapwort is a vigorous, low creeping plant, useful for spilling down sunny slopes or over rock walls. Plants form a low mound of bright-green leaves, literally smothered by starry bright-pink flowers in late spring. It is also useful as an edging in the sunny border, and worth considering in tubs or pots. Prune plants back hard immediately after blooming, to maintain a compact habit. Clumps may be easily divided in late summer or early spring. Drought tolerant once established. Evergreen! This plant bears pretty pink blossoms for a few months of the year, and foliage is also attractive throughout season! The leaves of Saponaria ocymoides have been used as soap since the Renaissance, which is the reason these plants are called soapwort! Museum conservators still use the soap for cleaning delicate fabrics not able to withstand modern soaps! The 2.5cm oval leaves are dark green, thick, fleshy, and produce a soap-like lather when crushed and stirred in warm water. This makes a great nursery plant for areas where other, slower growing ground covers are to be grown. It spreads very rapidly, preventing weeds while new plants are establishing!