Bouncing Bet – P
Saponaria officinalis
| Family | Pink (Caryophyllaceae) |
|---|---|
| Bloom | Summer, fall |
| Habitat | Fields, meadows, roadsides |
| Status | Non-Native |
| Cycle | Perennial |
| Height | 1-2′ |
| Flower | Several white or pink flowers 1″ wide form open clusters. Each flower has 5 heart-shaped petals. The base of the blossom is a long green tube. |
| Leaf | Leaves are narrow and 2-3″ long with a pointed tip and parallel veins. |
| Notes | Bouncing Bet is often seen growing in patches along the roadside. Its flowers look similar to phlox. It is also called soapwort because the roots contain saponin, a chemical that becomes slippery and sudsy when wet. It was once used to make soap. It spreads by underground roots (rhizomes) but also produces large amounts of black seeds. |
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