Soapwort – Trailing

Saponaria ocymoides
Perennial (usually flowers the first year)
Beautiful trailing vigorous plant that has a profusion of small lovely pink flowers smothering the plants, starting in the spring. It has neat and uniform growth which will cascade freely over rocks planters, garden walls, raised bed, landscape gardens, and any where it is planted. Also good as a ground cover. It is resistant to cold weather. Has been used to make home made soap. An elegant beautiful addition to most any where.
Sowing: Direct sow seeds in early spring or in early autumn. Surface sow in well drained soil in full sun to light shade. Keep soil damp until germination. Or start indoors 8 weeks before planting out, providing light and warmth. Transplant in early spring.
Height: 8-10 inches Spacing: 12-16 inchess Blooms: Spring-Summer Zones: 3-8
Germination: 14-21 days Moisture: regularly Light: Full sun to light shade
Soil: well drained, moderately fertile
Information: Cut back after blooming to encourage reblooming. Reseeds. Used as natural soap. Roots and leaves are soaked in water or heated in water to extract saponins that produce a lather. Reported to be a non-irritating skin cleanser, shampoo, and soap for delicate fabrics.