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Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) is a common wildflower that is found throughout Britain on wasteland, in woods and in hedgerows. It also grows alongside streams and on country roadsides.
It gets its name from the fact that, when bruised and boiled in water, the leaves and stems produce a liquid “soap” that was formerly used for washing raw wool and woollen cloth. The plant was grown commercially near woollen mills for this purpose, and much of the wild soapwort seen today owes its origin to this industrial use. However, it is also found in places that are a long distance from former woollen mills.
Soapwort is a hairless plant with smooth leaves that are narrow and oval in shape, each leaf showing up to five prominent veins. The plant grows up to 36 inches (90 centimetres) in height.
Pink or white flowers grow in clusters from August to October. They produce a delicate scent that attracts hawkmoths. The five sepals join together to form a smooth green tube.
As well as its former use as an industrial wool cleanser, soapwort has also been used as a shampoo for delicate hair. Extracts of soapwort have been used in herbal remedies for gout, rheumatism and skin diseases, despite the fact that the leaves and roots produce a poisonous substance called saponin. It would appear that soapwort products should be confined to external use only!
