As its name implies, Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) is used for making soap due to its presence of saponin-a type of natural product that acts as a surfactant and can disrupt cell membranes.
Saponins are distributed in many plants but the Saponaria genus is famous for its rich concentration, reaching up to about 20%. Soapwort is not only beautiful in the garden, but it can be harvested in a pinch and decocted into a soap solution. Adding flowers or essential oils can enhance the scent and animal fat can increase the hardness of a soap. The leaves, flowers and especially the roots, are all useful and can even be dried for later use.
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Photo by Ayotte, Gilles