Tumbling Ted. Rock Soapwort, Rock soapwort
Saponaria ocymoides
Family: Caryophyllaceae
What it is like
Bloom Color: Pink. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Early fall, Late summer, Late spring, Mid summer. Form: Prostrate, Spreading or horizontal.
Saponaria ocymoides is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Height (m): 0.1
Where it is found
Sunny slopes and rocks, usually limestone, in foothills up to about 2300 metres in the Alps.
Europe.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 3
All parts of the plant are rich in saponins and can be used as a soap substitute. The saponins are extracted by simmering the plant in water. Plants can be dried for later use. A gentle and effective cleaner. Plants make a good carpeting ground cover when spaced about 60cm apart each way.
Soap: Plants used directly as a soap substitute.
Ground cover: Ground Cover
How it is grown
Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Ground cover, Rock garden. Requires a gritty well-drained sunny dry position on a wall or the edge of a border creeping over a path. Grows well in sandy and dry soils. Prefers a moisture-retentive soil. Prefers a lime-free soil. Established plants are drought tolerant. Hardy to about -15°c. There are several named forms selected for their ornamental value. Hybridizes with other members of this genus. Special Features: Not North American native.
Propagating it: Seed - best if given a short cold stratification. Sow autumn or late winter in a cold frame. The seed usually germinates within 4 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, it can be successfully done at any time in the growing season if the plants are kept moist until they are re-established. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.
Best place to grow: Ground Cover; South Wall. In. West Wall. In.
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 2-7
Growth: Fast
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist
Things to keep in mind
The plant contains saponins. Although toxic, these substances are very poorly absorbed by the body and so tend to pass through without causing harm. They are also broken down by thorough cooking. Saponins are found in many plants, including several that are often used for food, such as certain beans. It is advisable not to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish.