Saponaria officinalis, commonly known as soapwort, bouncing-bet, or crow soap, is native to Eurasia but was introduced to North America and other parts of the world as a garden plant and medicinal herb. It has since escaped cultivation and become naturalized in many regions.
Soapwort is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.
Soapwort is particularly problematic in some parts of the United States and Canada where it can aggressively colonize and form dense stands, especially in disturbed habitats like roadsides, pastures, and along waterways. These stands can outcompete native vegetation and disrupt local ecosystems.
The plant’s resilience is largely due to its extensive rhizome system and its ability to propagate both by seed and vegetatively. This, combined with its tolerance for various soil types and conditions, makes it difficult to control once it has become established.
According to the U.S Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.
The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.
A plant is considered native if it occurs naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants. First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers and pesticides or use less water. Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats. Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.
Hardiness |
3 - 8 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 9 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Summer (Mid, Late), |
Native Plants | United States |
By M. Schuppich, Shutterstock
Hardiness |
3 - 8 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
1 - 9 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest | Summer (Mid, Late), |
Native Plants | United States |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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