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The basil-leaved soapwort, or saponaria, is an ornamental plant of the Clove family. Under natural conditions, more than 30 different varieties of soapwort are found everywhere: from the southern regions of Eurasia and the Mediterranean to the Western Siberian regions. The Latin name comes from the word “sapo”, which literally means “soap”. The root system of saponaria consists of 35% saponin, which is capable of forming a thick foam.
The plant is popularly called "soap root"
Description and characteristics
Soapwort basilica is an unpretentious plant that can grow without special care. Culture is distinguished by the following parameters:
- bush height up to 90 cm;
- the root system is highly branched, with a tap-shaped central root;
- stems erect;
- the color of the stems is green, with a reddish tint;
- leaves are lanceolate, pointed at the apex, entire, without stipules, without petioles;
- the arrangement of the leaves is opposite;
- leaf color is rich green;
- paniculate-corymbose inflorescences with large flowers;
- the number of petals in the corolla is five, with elongated marigolds;
- flower size up to 3 cm;
- petal color is white, pink, purple, red;
- fruits are multi-seeded capsules of elongated shape;
- seeds are finely tubular, black.
The flowering period of soapwort is characterized by the beginning of summer and ends with the onset of autumn
Reproduction methods
In the photo below is the basilica soapwort, which reproduces in two main ways:
- seed (sowing in open ground or seedlings);
- vegetative (cuttings or dividing a bush).
The seed propagation method is used in spring or mid-autumn. Cuttings are used in the spring, before flowering begins. The bush is divided at any time during the growing season.
Dividing the soapwort bush ensures effective rejuvenation of the mother culture
Growing soapwort from seeds
The seed method of propagating soapwort basilicofolia involves sowing seeds in open ground or growing seedlings.
The first option is carried out in mid-autumn or early spring.
If sowing is carried out in October in winter, the seeds undergo natural stratification. In the spring they germinate after the soil has completely warmed up.
Purchased seeds that have undergone preplanting treatment can be sown in open ground in the spring at ambient temperatures above + 20 ⁰С.After the first shoots appear, the seedlings are thinned out, leaving the strongest and most robust specimens at a distance of up to 30 cm from each other.
Soapwort seedlings are planted in planting boxes in the first ten days of March
Algorithm for sowing Soapwort seedlings:
- the seedling container is treated with disinfectant solutions;
- the loose soil mixture is disinfected;
- seeds are mixed with river sand;
- moisten the soil with warm water from a spray bottle;
- seeds mixed with sand are distributed over the surface of the earth without burial, sprinkled with sand;
- The container is covered with film or glass.
Containers with crops are placed in a warm, bright place and germinated at temperatures above + 21 ⁰C. When the first shoots appear, the shelter is removed. Picking soapwort seedlings is done after two main leaves appear on the seedlings.
Soapwort seedlings are grown in a well-lit and warm place to prevent thinning and stretching of the stems.
Young soapwort seedlings are hardened in the open air 2 weeks before transplanting into open ground
Dividing the bush
Saponaria divide the bush in the spring and summer. An adult plant of soapwort, intended for rejuvenation, is divided into parts. The bush is carefully dug up and removed from the ground. The earth is shaken off and divided into several parts (2-3 plots) using a knife. The sections are treated with wood ash. Each plot must have developed roots and a growing point.
Prepared plots of ornamental soapwort are planted in prepared holes immediately to prevent drying out of the root system, at a distance of more than 30 cm from each other.
Cuttings
Cuttings are cut in early spring from the top of young, healthy shoots. The procedure is carried out before the adult bushes begin to flower. The cuttings are prepared in a special way: all the leaves are cut off from the stems, leaving one pair of leaves at the top of the shoot. This technique allows you to reduce the intense evaporation of moisture from the surface of the plant leaves. The cuttings are planted in containers with a mixture of sand and peat, watered well and placed in a shaded place.
After the roots appear, the rooted soapwort cuttings are transplanted to a permanent place in the garden
Planting and caring for soapwort basilicofolia
Ornamental soapwort basilicofolia does not require complex agricultural technology when planting and caring. An unpretentious plant grows and develops equally well anywhere.
Soapwort ornamental basilica - easy to care for, attractive garden crop
Timing for sowing seeds for seedlings and open ground
The optimal timing for sowing seeds is:
- in open ground - October (before winter) or April-May;
- for seedlings - early March.
Ornamental soapwort seedlings are moved into open ground at the end of May when a consistently warm temperature has established.
The most comfortable air and soil temperature for the germination of soapwort seeds is more than + 20-22 ⁰С
Soil and seed preparation
Soapwort basilica prefers dry, loose, neutral, slightly fertile soil with an admixture of lime. Any place is suitable for the plant:
- in full shade;
- in conditions of partial shading;
- in well-lit conditions.
Purchased soapwort seeds are not stratified. Seed material collected at home requires preliminary hardening for 2 months.To do this, they are placed either on the bottom vegetable shelf of the refrigerator or outside (the container with the seeds is placed in a snowdrift).
Before planting the seeds in the ground, the soil is well watered.
Since the planting material is small in size, soapwort seeds are mixed with fine river sand
Sowing seeds for seedlings and open ground
The algorithm for sowing Soapwort seeds is the same (for sowing seedlings and sowing in open ground):
- Before sowing, the soil is well watered;
- prepared seeds mixed with sand are evenly distributed over the surface of the moistened soil;
- placed without deepening;
- after sowing, dust a little with sand;
- covered with glass.
When there is a threat of night spring frosts, basilica soapwort crops in open ground are covered with plastic wrap
Planting seedlings and subsequent care
Soapwort seedlings are planted in open ground in May when the threat of sudden temperature changes has passed.
Before planting work, in some cases, additional liming of the soil is carried out.
Algorithm for moving soapwort seedlings into open ground:
- seedlings are moved into prepared planting holes along with a lump of earth;
- the bushes are pressed to the ground and sprinkled with earth;
- seedlings are carefully watered;
- The planting site is mulched with sandstone, gravel or crushed stone.
Basilica soapwort is a fairly unpretentious crop for which minimal care is suitable:
- rare watering up to 1 time per week;
- mulching with bulk materials to prevent the appearance of weeds;
- loosening the soil during watering and removing weeds;
- fertilization 2 times per growing season with preparations containing calcium;
- cutting off faded inflorescences to 5 cm above the soil level (if there is no need to collect seeds).
After timely removal of faded inflorescences, the basilica soapwort bushes will grow more harmoniously, the next wave of flowering will be an order of magnitude more spectacular than the previous one
Pests and diseases
Soapwort basilica, or ornamental saponaria, like most unpretentious plants, has an enviable immunity to pathogens of most diseases and pests.
Most often, soapwort is attacked by the caterpillars of the cutworm butterfly. Large colonies of bats actively breed in June-July. Cutworm caterpillars hatch in the middle of the summer season and infect soapwort seed pods.
To combat cutworm caterpillars, modern insecticidal preparations Aktara, Fitoverm, Karbofos are used.
The culture can be affected by the following ailments:
- Leaf spotting. It can be identified by the presence of brown, black, brown spots on the leaf blades. The cause of the manifestation of a fungal disease can be excessive watering or the establishment of consistently wet, cold weather.
If the first signs of fungus are detected on soapwort foliage, fungicides are used (Bordeaux mixture, Fundazol); if the plants are completely affected, they should be removed and burned
- Root rot - a dangerous fungal disease that affects the root system. After the roots rot, the above-ground part of the plant withers and completely dies. The causes of root rot can be poor quality care, excessive soil moisture, insufficient disinfection of soil and planting material during the process of growing seedlings.
Copper sulfate, Bordeaux mixture, Maxim and Discor preparations are used to treat affected soapwort specimens.
Application in landscape design
In landscape design, saponaria is used to decorate the local area in various stylistic directions. Decorative basil leaf culture looks original:
- on prefabricated flower beds;
- on the alpine slides;
- for decorating crevices, rocks or boulders;
- in group plantings;
- in discounts;
- on curbs;
- in decorative flowerpots and hanging flowerpots.
Decorative varieties of saponaria can be combined with such garden crops as iberis, edelweiss, jasmine, saxifrage, sunflower, sage, bells, and garden daisies.
The ornamental plant looks exquisite as the main decoration of exotic boulders
Modern landscape designers prefer the following varieties of saponaria:
- Low-growing, noble variety Rosea Plena (Rosea Plena) It is distinguished by a stem height of up to 50 cm and pale pink double flowers.
Abundant flowering of soapwort Rosea Plena continues from July to September, the diameter of individual buds in paniculate inflorescences reaches 3.5 cm
- Spectacular variety Pumila delights with the unusual shape of the petals of individual buds in the inflorescence and the magnificent play of colors: from purple to burgundy and soft pink.
Low-growing soapwort Pumila is ideal for single plantings, decorating natural stones and boulders
- Basil leaf variety Luxury - a popular, unpretentious flower, which is characterized by abundant flowering of small pinkish-lilac flowers located directly on the shoots.
Attractive ground cover soapwort Luxury looks elegant in group, thematic mixborders
- snowy top - an exquisite variety with snow-white inflorescences and regular five-petal flowers.
Neatly outlined lines of pure white soapwort petals Snowy top look perfect in flower beds, borders, rockeries
- Moon dust - a beautiful basil-leaved variety, distinguished by pinkish-salmon-colored inflorescences.
Moon dust is a current choice for horizontal and vertical landscaping
Conclusion
Soapwort basilicofolia, or “soap root,” is a beautiful garden plant that is valued not only for the attractive appearance of its flowering inflorescences. Due to the presence of saponins, the culture is considered medicinal and serves as a raw material for obtaining healing compounds for diseases of the respiratory tract, liver, spleen, skin diseases, treatment of eczema, and metabolic disorders. In ancient times, soap was made from the root of the soapwort, which was used for washing clothes and washing pets. In addition, saponaria is a raw material for the production of confectionery products (halva, Turkish delight).
