Practical
Plants

Sapindus marginatus

Soapberry

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Sapindus genus in the family Sapindaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
15 m
Flower type
monoecious

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed is poisonous[1]. The fruit is poisonous[3].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit[2][5]. The fruit is eaten by native North American Indians, though most white people find it repulsive[2].

Plant part
Fruit

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A soap is obtained from the fruit by rubbing the fruit in water[10]. Used in Mexico for washing clothes[8]. The fruit can be dried and stored for later use[4]. Wood - heavy, strong, close-grained, splits easily[10][11]. It splits easily into thin strips and is often used in basket making[10].

Product or use
Soap
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
Habitat
Hammocks near the coast[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - requires some cold stratification. Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and sow in a cold frame in mid-winter. Move to a greenhouse in early spring. The seed should germinate in late spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in early summer. Cuttings of almost ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Fairly good percentage[12].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy outdoors in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors at least in the mildest areas of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in any well-drained soil in full sun[7]. This species tolerates a wide range of soils, including those that are dry, stony and nutrient deficient[6]. Trees are relatively slow-growing in the wild[9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-292-78958-3

    ↩

  4. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  7. Stapleton. C. Bamboos of Nepal The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 1994-00-00 ISBN 0947643680

    ↩

  8. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩

  9. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩

  10. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Small. Manual of the Southeastern Flora.

    ↩1↩2

  12. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

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