Content
- 1 What does soapwort look like and where does it grow?
- 2 Types and varieties of soapwort
- 3 Reproduction methods
- 4 Planting and caring for soapwort
- 5 Pests and diseases
- 6 Pruning and preparation for winter
- 7 Application in landscape design
- 8 Conclusion
Planting and caring for soapwort in open ground requires minimal effort. This is one of the most unpretentious plants that can be grown in most regions of Russia. Soapwort is obtained from seeds (in open ground or by seedlings), after which it is planted in a permanent place. Only occasionally does the flower need to be watered and the soil loosened.
What does soapwort look like and where does it grow?
Soapwort is a genus of herbaceous plants of the Clove family.It includes annual, biennial and perennial herbs. The Soapwort genus is also called Saponaria (lat. Saponaria), which is associated with the word “sapo” - “soap”. If you dig up the roots and put them in water, they form a foam-like mixture.
According to the description, soapwort (pictured) is a low or medium-sized plant with highly branched creeping or ascending shoots. They are often smooth, less often covered with a layer of fluff; color green or red-brown. The leaves are lanceolate, arranged oppositely, have a pointed apex, and taper towards the base.
Soapwort flowers have five petals. They are small, do not exceed 3 cm in diameter. They are united in numerous paniculate inflorescences of different colors (depending on the type and variety):
- white;
- cream;
- pink;
- soft lilac;
- lilac;
- red.
Saponaria blooms abundantly, long-lasting, can last from June to August
The culture grows in Eurasia, with the Mediterranean countries being considered the main habitat. Soapwort is also found in Russia in several regions:
- middle lane;
- Kuban, North Caucasus;
- Western Siberia.
The plant can be found in open and shady places: among bushes, in meadows, on the edges of forests, as well as along river banks. Soapwort is unpretentious, so its distribution area is quite wide.
Types and varieties of soapwort
There are 15 known species of saponaria and several dozen varieties grown specifically for growing in the garden. The most popular varieties will help you choose a plant for every taste.
Soapwort Olivana
The Saponaria olivana variety is also called Inspiration. Soapwort has attractive flowers of a soft lilac hue. Grows well in sunny places, in light sandy soil.Suitable for growing in the middle zone and in the south - it can withstand winter frosts down to -29 °C.
Saponaria Olivana blooms from June to July
Soapwort officinalis
Another name for the species is common soapwort (Saponaria officinalis). It takes root well in the middle zone, in the south and in Western Siberia. It reaches a height of 30–90 cm, while the leaves are very large - up to 12 cm in length.
Soapwort is valued for its medicinal properties and beautiful pale pink flowers.
The following varieties are especially popular among gardeners: Rosea Plena, Bressingham, Dazzler, Variegata.
Rosea Plena
Soapwort Rosea Plena is one of the representatives of the Plena series along with Alba and Rubra. They differ in flower color:
- in Alba they are white;
- in Rubr - dark red;
- in the soapwort Rosea Plena (Saponaria officinalis Rosea Plena) - pink, terry in type, i.e. consist of several layers of petals.
The Rosea Plena variety is distinguished by attractive flowers and a large bush (up to 100 cm in height)
Bressingham soapwort
The Bressingham variety of saponaria is represented by small ground cover shrubs (up to 40 cm in height). Produces beautiful inflorescences of a rich pink hue. Feature – long flowering. Numerous flowers create a very pleasant aroma around themselves.
Bressingham is one of the most attractive soapwort varieties, blooming from June to August.
Dazzler
Dazzler is a variegated plant that produces large, lush blooms of bright pink.
The flowers contrast well against the green background and are visible from anywhere in the flowerbed. Blooms from July to August.
Variegata
Variegata is another variegated saponaria. The leaves of the crop have stripes of a light green color that alternate with rich green ones.
The Variegata variety is decorative not only with flowers, but also with variegated foliage
Soapwort ground cover
A ground cover variety of low-growing saponaria does not exceed 30 cm in height
The leaves are lanceolate, narrow, with a glossy surface. The flowers are pale pink and exude a pleasant aroma. In nature, the culture is found in the foothills of the Pyrenees. In Russia, representatives of this type of saponaria can be grown in the middle zone and other regions.
Soapwort Pink Lawn
Soapwort Pink lawn is an ornamental perennial plant, ground cover (height up to 20 cm). Pillows appear on the body of the plant, from which shoots are formed. The leaves are narrow, the inflorescences are umbrella-type.
Saponaria Pink Lawn produces numerous flowers
Soapwort Pumila
Relatively tall (up to 40 cm) saponaria. Forms large inflorescences of pinkish-burgundy color.
Soapwort Pumila blooms from June to August
Perennial soapwort
Perennial saponaria is a tall plant (up to 100 cm) with dark green oval leaves and light pink flowers collected in umbellate inflorescences. They give a pleasant aroma. Begins to bloom in the first half of July. In August it forms numerous seed pods and can spread by self-sowing.
Perennial soapwort blooms from July to August
Soapwort Basilicofolia
This species of saponaria (Saponaria Ocymoides) is also called Moon Dust. A low-growing groundcover plant with creeping shoots up to 20 cm high. The leaves are narrow, oval, rich green in color, the surface is matte. In appearance they resemble basil foliage, which is where the corresponding name comes from.
The inflorescences are umbellate, the flowers are star-shaped (5-petalled), numerous. They give a pleasant aroma.Color ranges from pink to red. Soapwort Basilica is characterized by high winter hardiness, so even if it freezes in severe winter, it is easily restored by self-sowing seeds (from fruit boxes).
Camilla
Low-growing saponaria (up to 15 cm), green foliage with pubescence. The flowers are small, pink in color.
Variety Camilla is used as a ground cover plant
Rubra Compacta
Rubra compacta Odistinguished by bright pink flowers. The culture is used to decorate alpine slides.
Rubra Compacta grows well on rocky soils
Splendence
The color of the flowers is not as bright as that of Rubra Compact. Splendens means "luxury".
The Splendence variety is valued for its elegant, delicately colored flowers.
Snow Type
Snow Tip is a beautiful low-growing soapwort. Produces many white flowers.
Snow Type is used for planting in rocky areas
Soapwort Lemperji
The Saponaria species Lempergii came from the Balkan Peninsula. A low-growing plant – up to 40 cm with arched stems. The leaves are lanceolate, dark green, matte surface. The flowers are star-shaped, painted in lilac-pink shades, collected in bunches at the tops of the shoots.
Lemperji produces attractive pastel lilac flowers
Yellow soapwort
The Saponaria species Lutea is a dwarf species: height 5–12 cm. Produces numerous yellow flowers. They look inconspicuous, but they can create a beautiful background.
The flowers of this variety of soapwort are pale yellow in color.
Reproduction methods
Saponaria can be grown at home by obtaining seedlings from seeds. The seedlings grow in the greenhouse for 2 months, after which they are transplanted into open ground. Adult soapwort can be propagated by cuttings and dividing the bush.In this case, the plants will completely retain the characteristics of the mother bush.
Growing soapwort from seeds
One of the main ways to propagate soapwort and other varieties is by growing from seeds. The plant can be obtained either by seedlings or by planting seed directly in open ground. In the first case, they are grown at home at room temperature, and after the leaves appear, at 5–7 °C. In the second case, the seeds are planted in the ground in late spring or early summer. In the first planting season, be sure to mulch with peat, sawdust or other materials.
Dividing a perennial soapwort bush
Perennial plant species and varieties can be propagated by dividing the bush. You can start the procedure at the end of March or early April (before the buds swell) or immediately after the end of flowering. The bush is dug up, shaken off the ground and the soapwort root is carefully separated using a sharp knife. Moreover, each new division should have several healthy buds. Then they are planted in a permanent place, well watered and mulched.
Cuttings
Another method of propagation is using cuttings. They are obtained from the apical shoots in mid-spring, before flowering begins. The shoots are small – 10–15 cm in length. From the bottom completely. The leaves are removed and left on the top. Then they are planted in damp sand (possibly indoors) and a jar is placed on top, periodically moistened generously. As soon as the roots appear, they are immediately transplanted to a permanent place. For the winter, it is advisable to mulch with dry leaves, peat, sawdust, and spruce branches.
Planting and caring for soapwort
Soapwort is an undemanding plant that thrives in a variety of soils. Caring for it is simple, so any gardener can cope with its cultivation.
Timing for planting soapwort seeds for seedlings and open ground
Saponaria seeds can be planted immediately in open ground or seedlings can be obtained first. If you grow soapwort from seeds in the soil, they can be planted either in mid-May or early October (for Siberia and the North-West - the second half of May or the end of September). Planting seeds for seedlings is carried out only in the spring - in the second half of March.
Saponaria is convenient to grow in cassettes
Soil and seed preparation
The culture easily takes root even on infertile, rocky and clayey soils. Therefore, there is no need to specially prepare the soil for planting. The flowerbed is cleaned and dug to a shallow depth. If the soil is too acidic, add 200 g of crushed eggshells or slaked lime per 1 m2. If it is heavy, clayey - 500–800 g of sand or sawdust for the same area.
As for the soil for planting seeds for seedlings, novice gardeners purchase universal soil. You can also make the mixture yourself. To do this, take turf soil (2 parts) and mix it with peat and compost (1 part each). If the soil is clayey, add a pinch of white sand. On the eve of planting, it is watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, calcined in the oven (150 °C, 15–20 minutes) or placed in the freezer for several days.
Sowing seeds for seedlings and open ground
To obtain seedlings, saponaria seeds are sown in plastic containers or wooden boxes. Landing instructions:
- Soapwort seeds are small, so they are simply distributed evenly over the surface with an interval of 2–3 cm.
- Then they are sprinkled with soil, but not buried.
- Moisturize generously from a spray bottle.
- Cover with film or a transparent lid and place on the windowsill.
- Next, maintain room temperature and diffuse lighting, and periodically moisten.
- After the first shoots appear (after 15–20 days), the film is removed and the containers are placed in a cool room with a temperature of +5–7 °C.
- When the soapwort produces the first pair of leaves, the seedlings are carefully planted in different pots.
Next, soapwort seedlings are grown until transplanted into open ground: diffused lighting and moderate moisture are maintained.
Planting seedlings and subsequent care
Saponaria seedlings are transferred to the ground in mid-May or towards the end of the month, when the soil warms up to +10–12 °C and the threat of return frosts is minimal. The site should be:
- open to the sun, this will ensure bright and abundant flowering;
- moderately moisturized. A slight elevation is better, not a lowland.
Saponaria takes root on any soil
During transplantation, they try to preserve the earthen ball as much as possible (the soil is pre-moistened). The interval between plants is 25–30 cm. Further care of soapwort comes down to a few simple steps:
- Water only during drought.
- Mulching plantings with peat, humus, and sawdust to maintain soil moisture.
- Feeding only in April. You can apply a complex fertilizer, for example, azofoska.
- Weeding - as needed.
- Loosening - regularly, especially after heavy rains, watering or fertilizing.
Pests and diseases
Saponaria has good immunity and practically does not suffer from diseases.Sometimes it can suffer from spotting, which is associated with excess moisture. In this case, cut off all affected leaves and stems, and stop watering completely.
Of the pests, soapwort is threatened only by cutworm caterpillars. They are collected by hand, after which the plant is treated with an insecticide:
- "Fitoverm";
- "Nurimet Extra";
- "Practitioner";
- "Phasis" and others.
It is better to spray the flower in the evening, in dry and windless weather.
Pruning and preparation for winter
It is enough to prune the saponaria once per season - after the end of flowering (September). At this point, you need to remove all the faded inflorescences, as well as remove the foliage and remove the top third of the shoots (as a result, they should all become approximately the same length).
Not all varieties of soapwort need special shelter for the winter. But if the region has frosty winters and little snowfall, the plant is completely covered with dry leaves or sawdust.
Application in landscape design
Saponaria is a classic ground cover. The plant is used to create lush floral carpets next to the path, near garden trees and shrubs, and to decorate remote corners of the garden.
Soapwort goes well with different colors:
- aconite;
- phlox;
- sage;
- dahlias.
The plant is ideal for rock gardens and rockeries, as the abundant inflorescences look elegant against a neutral rocky background. Below are some photos for inspiration:
- Mixborder along the road.
- Creeping soapwort hanging from a small height.
- Wall decoration.
- Flower carpet along the fence.
- Soapwort in the rock garden.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for soapwort in open ground is accessible to any gardener. This is an undemanding plant that grows even in abandoned areas and at the same time blooms profusely and feels quite normal. A well-lit flowerbed without stagnant moisture is suitable for planting. And care comes down to only rare watering, one-time fertilizing and periodic loosening of the soil.
