This genus belongs to the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), and features around 20 species of Eurasian annuals and perennials containing saponin, a glucoside that forms a soapy solution when mixed with water. The roots in particular were once used as soap, and the extract is present in detergents and foaming agents-hence the common name of soapwort. That use aside, these are pretty little plants that are well worth growing for their beauty alone. They are mainly low growing and range from tufted mounds to quite wide-spreading ground covers. They have blue-green linear to spatula-shaped leaves, sometimes toothed, and in summer are smothered in heads of small, starry, 5-petalled flowers.
CULTIVATION
Minly very hardy and easily grown, they do best in gritty, moist, humus-rich, free-draining soil. They will also take slightly alkaline soil. Propagate by cuttings, from layers, or from seed.
Top Tip
Mking a soft carpet of slarry flowers, Saponaria species are most at home spilling over banks, in rockeries, or placed in sunny perennial borders.
CULTIVATION
Minly very hardy and easily grown, they do best in gritty, moist, humus-rich, free-draining soil. They will also take slightly alkaline soil. Propagate by cuttings, from layers, or from seed.
Top Tip
Mking a soft carpet of slarry flowers, Saponaria species are most at home spilling over banks, in rockeries, or placed in sunny perennial borders.
No comments:
Post a Comment