Irish wildflowers BSBI map

Soapwort, Saponaria officinalis, Garbhán creagach
Photographs: Clonakilty, Co. Cork

Soapwort
Saponaria officinalis
Garbhán creagach
Family: Caryophyllaceae

Flowering: July-September. Perennial. Introduced.

Pink flowers with 5 un-notched petals in forked cymes on branched stems. A double-flowered form is frequent with multiple petals instead of stamens. The pale green lanceolate leaves are hairless. Straggling growth habit with thick, brittle stems. Produces many runners and can form large patches. Previously used for making soap. Height 30-90cm.

A naturalised garden escape that is widespread on roadsides, waste ground and stream edges.

Soapwort, Saponaria officinalis, Garbhán creagach

Soapwort, Saponaria officinalis, Garbhán creagach
Soapwort, Saponaria officinalis, Garbhán creagach

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