This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Sapindus drummondii
  • Western Soapberry

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

Niche
  • Secondary canopy
    Secondary canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 8
    Zone 8
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Sapindus drummondii has 0 edible uses listed
Sapindus drummondii has 0 material uses listed
Sapindus drummondii has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The seed is poisonous[1]. The fruit is poisonous[2].

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit[3]. No more details from this report but another report says that it is poisonous[2]. The berry-like fruits have a leathery coat that contains poisonous saponins[4]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[5] and often hangs on the tree until the following spring[6].

Fruit

Unknown use

Material uses

A soap is obtained from the fruit by rubbing the fruit in water[1][7][8][9]. Used in Mexico for washing clothes[10]. The fruit can be dried and stored for later use[11].

Buttons and necklaces are made from the seed[2].

Wood - heavy, strong and close-grained[6][2]. It weighs 51lb per cubic foot[10]. It splits easily into thin strips and is often used in basket making, it is also used as a fuel[12][6][10][4].

Unknown part

Buttons
Soap
Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The fruit is antirheumatic and febrifuge[2]. It is used in the treatment of kidney diseases[2][10]. A poultice of the sap has been used to treat wounds[13].

Unknown part

Antirheumatic
Febrifuge
Kidney
Poultice

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Secondary canopy

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

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[14].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Sapindus drummondii. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in any well-drained soil in full sun[15]. This species tolerates a wide range of soils, including those that are dry, stony and nutrient deficient[5].

One report says that this species will probably not survive long outdoors in Britain, even though it is the hardiest member of the genus[1]. Another says that it is quite hardy in Britain[7] whilst a third says that it can tolerate temperatures down to about -7°c[5]. A specimen planted at Kew in 1987 was 2½ metres tall and looking very healthy in August 1999[K].

Trees are relatively slow-growing in the wild[4].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Sapindus drummondii. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Sapindus drummondii.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Sapindus drummondii
Genus
Sapindus
Family
Sapindaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][2][4][5][6]
Medicinal uses
[2][10][13]
Material uses & Functions
[1][7][8][9][10][11][2][6][12][4]
Botanic
[7][16][5]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
8
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
Secondary canopy
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
deciduous
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
slow
Mature Size
12 x meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
?
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
monoecious











References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.52.62.72.8 Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press ISBN 0-292-78958-3 (1987-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.4 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.4 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.1 Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-23310-3 (1976-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.1 Haywood. V. H. Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-217674-9 ()
  10. ? 10.010.110.210.310.410.5 Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. ISBN 0292780206 (1982-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.1 Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden. ()
  12. ? 12.012.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  13. ? 13.013.1 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
  14. ? Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
  15. ? Stapleton. C. Bamboos of Nepal The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew ISBN 0947643680 (1994-00-00)
  16. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)

Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-181" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.


Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Sapindus_drummondii&oldid=80677"
Facts about "Sapindus drummondii"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familySapindaceae +
Belongs to genusSapindus +
Has common nameWestern Soapberry +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has edible partFruit +
Has edible useUnknown use +
Has environmental toleranceDrought +
Has flowers of typeMonoecious +
Has growth rateSlow +
Has hardiness zone8 +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useButtons +, Soap + and Wood +
Has mature height12 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAntirheumatic +, Febrifuge +, Kidney + and Poultice +
Has search namesapindus drummondii + and x +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preferenceClay +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameSapindus drummondii +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Inhabits ecosystem nicheSecondary canopy +
Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +