50% off
Soapwort - Saponaria (Saponaria vaccaria alba) - 100 Seeds
$1.95
$3.90
Soapwort - Saponaria (Saponaria vaccaria alba) - 100 Seeds
•Non-GMO
•American grown seeds
•Bee Friendly
•Butterfly Friendly
•Hummingbird Friendly
Description:
Soapwort is a wonderful Old World wildflower that carpets the late spring garden with a multitude of bright pink flowers. A vigorous groundcover, Soapwort readily reseeds itself and naturalizes in the garden. A prompt shearing, as the flowers fade, keeps it tidy and prevents reseeding. A superior ground cover, Soapwort is a particularly good choice for cold, short season areas of the intermountain West. It grows readily in almost any soil including clay. Can tolerate occasional foot traffic
Other uses:
A natural soap can be made by boiling the dried and crushed rhizome (or leaves) for half an hour in water. The saponins present in the plant lower the surface tension of the water resulting in a foamy, soapy solution which can be used for cleaning. This solution is a gentle and effective cleaner that was often used by museums to clean fragile and delicate fabrics that could not withstand the strong chemical soaps.
Planting Instructions:
Soapwort seeds are tiny, so the sowing process is slightly more involved than for larger seeds. Scatter four or five seeds on the surface of the soil with roughly 1/4-inch of space between them. Spread a 1/8-inch-thick layer of soil over the seeds, gently tamp it and spray it with water to settle it. Make sure the seeds are completely covered and not exposed to the light because they require darkness to successfully germinate. The seeds are easily dislodged because they are so small, so cover the soil surface with a single layer of coarse perlite or sand to add weight to the soil and help hold them in place.
Since soapwort seeds do not require light for germination, you can position them anywhere indoors without regard for windows or artificial lighting. However, because they require temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, place them in a warm location, such as atop a refrigerator or on a gas stove with an active pilot light. You may also use an adjustable propagation mat, but it is not strictly necessary. Water the soapwort seeds when the surface of the soil feels mostly dry to the touch. Use a spray bottle to water because its light, diffuse distribution is less likely to dislodge the seeds. Viable soapwort seeds will germinate in roughly 10 to 15 days if kept warm and moist.
Season: Annual
USDA Zones: 3-10
Height: 24 inches
Germination: 14-28 days
Bloom Season: Late spring through early summer
Light Required: Full sun to partial shade
Watering: Keep moist
Soil: Well drained
Seed Depth: â…› inch
Seeds per Plant: 2-3
Plant Spacing: 18 inches
***These products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore we cannot claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All information on our site is provided for educational purposes only.
•Non-GMO
•American grown seeds
•Bee Friendly
•Butterfly Friendly
•Hummingbird Friendly
Description:
Soapwort is a wonderful Old World wildflower that carpets the late spring garden with a multitude of bright pink flowers. A vigorous groundcover, Soapwort readily reseeds itself and naturalizes in the garden. A prompt shearing, as the flowers fade, keeps it tidy and prevents reseeding. A superior ground cover, Soapwort is a particularly good choice for cold, short season areas of the intermountain West. It grows readily in almost any soil including clay. Can tolerate occasional foot traffic
Other uses:
A natural soap can be made by boiling the dried and crushed rhizome (or leaves) for half an hour in water. The saponins present in the plant lower the surface tension of the water resulting in a foamy, soapy solution which can be used for cleaning. This solution is a gentle and effective cleaner that was often used by museums to clean fragile and delicate fabrics that could not withstand the strong chemical soaps.
Planting Instructions:
Soapwort seeds are tiny, so the sowing process is slightly more involved than for larger seeds. Scatter four or five seeds on the surface of the soil with roughly 1/4-inch of space between them. Spread a 1/8-inch-thick layer of soil over the seeds, gently tamp it and spray it with water to settle it. Make sure the seeds are completely covered and not exposed to the light because they require darkness to successfully germinate. The seeds are easily dislodged because they are so small, so cover the soil surface with a single layer of coarse perlite or sand to add weight to the soil and help hold them in place.
Since soapwort seeds do not require light for germination, you can position them anywhere indoors without regard for windows or artificial lighting. However, because they require temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, place them in a warm location, such as atop a refrigerator or on a gas stove with an active pilot light. You may also use an adjustable propagation mat, but it is not strictly necessary. Water the soapwort seeds when the surface of the soil feels mostly dry to the touch. Use a spray bottle to water because its light, diffuse distribution is less likely to dislodge the seeds. Viable soapwort seeds will germinate in roughly 10 to 15 days if kept warm and moist.
Season: Annual
USDA Zones: 3-10
Height: 24 inches
Germination: 14-28 days
Bloom Season: Late spring through early summer
Light Required: Full sun to partial shade
Watering: Keep moist
Soil: Well drained
Seed Depth: â…› inch
Seeds per Plant: 2-3
Plant Spacing: 18 inches
***These products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore we cannot claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All information on our site is provided for educational purposes only.