Accession Count: 1
Common Name:
soapberry
Family Name:
Sapindaceae
Botanical Name:
Sapindus saponaria
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
The wingleaf soapberry can appear as anywhere from a large shrub to a tree up to 21m (70 ft) tall (6). It typically grows in thickets where the plants average 6 m (20 ft) in height, but singular trees can grow much larger. Its light brown bark begins to fall off in patches once the tree reaches maturity. The leaves grow 20-38 cm (8-15 in) long and contain between 3-10 pairs of leaflets that grow in a pinnately compound arrangement. The upper surface of the leaves appears bright green and glossy, with the underside being fuzzy. Each tree produces both male and female flowers, about 2-6mm in diameter, which grow in terminal panicles and can reach clusters of 10-25 cm (4-10 in) long. These off-white flowers bloom in early summer to late fall, depending on the region (7). Each flower contains 4-5 petals, while male flowers have 8 stamens, and female flowers have 2-3 carpels. As implied by the name, the soapberry tree produces berries. These golden-colored fruits ripen in fall, winter and spring, depending again on the region, turning a deep brown or black color, and are typically about 1 cm (3/8 in) long. When ripe, they appear as a translucent, yellow berry that somewhat resembles a grape. Each fruit contains 1-3 reddish brown seeds.
Compound:
Sap sap
Geographic Origin:
Mexican Tropics
Ecozone Origin:
Neotropic
Biome Origin:
Tropical Forests
Natural History:
The wingleaf soapberry was first formally described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 work, Species Plantarum, however its discovery and use tracks back thousands of years through indigenous communities. The genus name Sapindus comes from the latin word sapo, meaning soap, and indus, referring to its occurrence in India. It is native to many tropical & subtropical regions of both North & South America, and is generally found at elevations of under 1200m (4,000 ft).
Cultivation Notes:
It is commonly found in warmer, tropical environments. It grows best in zones 9-11 and requires full sun. It grows best in well-drained, sandy and rocky soils, but can tolerate clay and loamy soils as well (7)(8). It is also tolerant to both acidic and alkaline soils, as well as high salt levels. Additionally, it is also known to be fairly drought tolerant. After being removed from the fruit, wingleaf soapberry can be propagated by seed using scarification followed by soaking in hot water for up to 24 hours (3).
Ethnobotany:
Although the fruits are toxic and can cause skin irritation, the ripe fruits can contain up to 37% saponin, which creates a soapy lather when mixed with water (4). This fruit has been used by indigenous communities for washing clothes and other items. Other communities, particularly in Mexico, are known to still use this berry today for washing clothes. The mature seeds can be used in jewelry or carved into buttons. The wood produced by the tree is malleable and often used to make baskets (5).
Height:
20 - 50 feet
Width:
20 - 50 feet
Growth Rate:
Moderate Growing
Grow Season:
Summer
Flower Season:
Fall
Color:
Cream
Function:
Shade
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Toxic
Hardy:
Semi-hardy
Water Use:
Moderate Water Use
Citations:
2. USDA Retrieved October 15 2024 5. Little, E. L. (1994). The Audubon Society field guide to North American trees:Western region (Chanticleer Press ed.). Knopf. (Original work published 1980).
