The soapwort in my rock garden is starting to flower. This is one of my favorite flowers, not only is it beautiful and flowers from June to September, but it has many uses.
Soapwort (Saponaria) has been know for thousands of years for its ability to produce a soap like lather when crushed in water.
See Soapwart Recipe below
History of the name
Soapw0rt was also known as Bouncingbets and is said to have gotten it’s name “Bouncing Bet from barmaids in England who were often called Bets, these barmaids would use soapwart to clean the ale bottles. To clean them they would put a sprig of the plant into the bottles, fill them with water and then shake the bottle. When they began shaking the bottles the Bets began bouncing and that is where the term ‘Bouncing Bets’ began.
Rock Soapwort- Rose/purple- 200 Seeds
Where does Soapwort come from
Soapwort arrived in England around the Middle Ages, where monks had brought it from Germany and France, the common people realized its value immediately, but once the wealthy textile businessmen realized it’s value they cultivated fields of it as it was a very inexpensive detergent.
Fine silks and woollens were cleansed with the leaves and young roots. This was made by bruising the stems and leaves in water. It is the cylindrical roots that were used for medicine.
Like the dandelion and many other weeds, bouncing betty was brought over to the new land from Europe. It became part of most pioneer gardens and it thrived in the new country.
Uses today
Still today this weed is used in homes and museums to clean wall hangings and tapestries.
The Dutch in Pennsylvania used this herb to produce the foamy head on their beer, and still today, some brewers use the plant’s saponins to produce and maintain a foamy head to their beer.
SOAPWORT SOAP RECIPE
This recipe can be used as a body wash or shampoo
I grow my own soapwort, which like I said is so pretty and really a very easy herb to grow so making my own soap is easy. Soapwort also spreads very well and very rapidly so don’t worry if you use most of what you have grown. It will pop up all over next year.
To make your soap you’ll need
-
- 3 tablespoons of fresh or dried soapwort
- 1 cup of water.
Directions
- Put your water in a pan and bring to the boil.
- Add your fresh soapwort.
- Simmer for around 15 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and let cool.
- Strain through a cheesecloth or strainer and put in a jar to store.
Historical Medicinal Uses
Soapwort was also used for medicines to treat ailments such as coughs, and kidney stones. In the Medieval times a herbalist would use this herb to treat syphilis, gonorrhea, leprosy and skin itches.
The Soapwort root would be dug up, cleaned and dried; it is noted that as late as the 1940s these roots were still being sold by the pound for medicine.
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What a lovely site! I was intrigued by the soapwort story. I like the picture in my head of those bar maids shaking up the ale bottles to get them clean.
I have not encountered soapwort as a garden plant in Hawaii so I am grateful for your pointing to a source for it. I’d like to try that cleaning solution on an old tapestry that is getting a bit grimy.
I’m sure they would grow in Hawaii, with such a warm climate. Here is a link where you can buy seeds on-line
Soapwort
Love your site, I’m trying to get back to nature a bit more and use less mass produced products so keen to give this one a go. I have found so many beautiful recipes on here, just need to get the ingredients and give it a go.
Love the tale about the barmaids too.
I have never heard of Soapwart, just wondering if you know if it would grow in Australia? And if it doesn’t is there a dried version you can buy or is it better to be fresh?
Hello Heidi, I don’t see why it would not grow in Australia. Might have to water it, but it should grow. You can purchase seeds on-line – Here is a link Soapwort Seeds You can also get an extract Soapwort Extract
I knew about the soap aspect of soapwort but looked to your site for instructions for how to do it. I previously thought it was just the root. Also, I just read a site that uses yucca root for soap and shampoo.
When Puerto Ricans cook yucca for food, it has to be cooked a long time to get it to soften. The consistency is that of a stiff mashed potato. Kind of a starchy taste, too. I had it served with salt, butter and a few strips of pickled onion. It was delish! Now, the article for the yucca soap said to dig the tap root, peel it, cube it real small and then mash it. (The guy used a mortar and pestle.) After it was mashed, he simply squeezed the juice from it and used that. The pulp was to be saved and could be used again if it was dried and then some water added. It was a little weaker each time.
I’m thinking that once the saponins are removed, the dried pulp could probably be rehydrated and cooked like instant potatoes. May give it a try! IMPORTANT NOTE:
IT IS ILLEGAL TO DIG WILD YUCCA IN SOME PLACES, but it is sold in many garden centers and seeds easily.
Hi Karla,
Thanks for sharing the info on the Yucca that’s really interesting.