Care, uses and more of the Saponaria

La saponaria It is a small plant that can be kept in a pot or in the garden for several years. Its flowers are a real wonder: made up of five petals, they are dyed in very soft and cheerful colors that will give the room a very special touch ... as is the plant.

Maintenance is relatively easy, and its cultivation is suitable for beginners. So reserve a spot for him in your patio or garden. You'll see how you don't regret it 😉.

Characteristics of the Saponaria

The name "Saponaria" refers to the botanical genus of our protagonist, who is known by the common names soap dish or soap plant. It is native to central and southern Europe, although today you can find it growing wild in Southwest Asia and North America as well.

If we talk about its characteristics, it must be said that grows to a maximum height of 60cm from a rhizome found underground. The leaves are lanceolate, glabrous, and look between 3 and 5cm in length. Its flowers are very pretty, purple or pink, and also give off a sweet aroma. The fruit is a capsule that contains numerous seeds.

How do you take care of yourself?

Do you want to have one in your home? This is your care guide:

• Location: outside, in semi-shade.
• Soil or substrate: it is not demanding, but it is important that it has good drainage.
• Irrigation: every 2 days in summer and every 4-5 days the rest of the year.
• Planting or transplanting time: in spring. If it is potted, it is advisable to transplant it every 2 years.
• Subscriber: from spring to summer, with liquid fertilizers for flowering plants or with guano following the instructions specified on the package.
• Multiplication: by seeds in spring. Direct sowing in seedbed.
• Rusticity: withstands cold and frosts down to -4ºC.

Uses and properties of Saponaria

This plant it is used as an ornamental. It looks great in pots and in the garden. However, it also has other uses; in fact, it's medicinal: its leaves are rich in vitamin C, which is essential to strengthen the immune system. In decoction they are used to alleviate the symptoms of dermatitis and furúnculosis; and in cosmetics it is used to take care of skin that has a tendency to acne or itch.

But perhaps the most common use is for the rhizome of the saponaria officinalis. Of the a natural soap is extracted that can serve both to clean the skin and hair. How? A) Yes:

Ingredients

• 50g rhizome S. officinalis
• 1 tablespoon of leaves Salvia officinalis
• 1 tablespoon of rosemary leaves (Rosmarinus officinalis)
• 1 tablespoon of male abrótano (Artemisia arbrotanum)
• 1l of water

Preparation mode

You just have to pour it all into a container and bring the water to a boil. Once it reaches the boiling point, you have to strain it and pack it.

Did you find the Saponaria interesting? 🙂