Soapy Substance – Identify the Plant
Q: When I was a boy during the 1930s in Savannah, I found a wild plant which, if the leaves were rubbed, yielded a soapy substance. What was that plant?
A: Wild plant expert Shannon Pable (shannonpable.com) says you likely found soapwort, Saponaria officinalis. This hardy perennial can be grown in a sunny bed but it may spread more than you like. You can make a natural soap, or even shampoo, by boiling the leaves, roots and stems. Seeds can be found online.
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Okra – Holes in Leaves (Hibiscus Sawfly)
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Woolly Bear Caterpillar – Predicting Winter Weather
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Zoysia – Mowing and Fertlization
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Bradford Pear – Pruning
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A weed is a plant that makes a gardener unhappy
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Fatsia – Blooming in December
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Oak Tree – Vines to Grow on It
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Okra Seeds – Soaking In Bleach
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Lawn Fungus – How to Prevent
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Zoysia Lawn Care
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