Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)

Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) is a perennial plant that can grow 50cm – 1.5m tall and 10cm – 50cm wide.

This plant has several common names including: soapwort, Boston pink, bouncing bett, bouncing bet, bruisewort, chimney pink, common soapwort, crow soap, devil in a bush, farewell to summer, flop top, fuller’s herb, Gill-run-by-the-street, hedge pink, Jill-run-by-the-street, lady by the gate, London pride, mock gilliflower, old maid’s pink, old maid’s slipper, sheepweed, soap plant, soap root, soapwort gentian, sweet Betty, wild sweet William, wood phlox or world’s wonder.

This is a deciduous plant that takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: soapwort, Boston pink, bouncing bett, bouncing bet, bruisewort, chimney pink, common soapwort, crow soap, devil in a bush, farewell to summer, flop top, fuller’s herb, Gill-run-by-the-street, hedge pink, Jill-run-by-the-street, lady by the gate, London pride, mock gilliflower, old maid’s pink, old maid’s slipper, sheepweed, soap plant, soap root, soapwort gentian, sweet Betty, wild sweet William, wood phlox, world’s wonder
Scientific name: Saponaria officinalis
Plant type: Perennials
Habit: Clump-forming
Height: 50cm – 1.5m
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: Informal Garden, Wildflower meadow, Wildlife Gardens
Planting type: Low Maintenance

Seasonal colors

How to plant Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) – Josep Gesti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cultivation profiles – Growing Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) – Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons