Bouncing Bet

Plant Info

Also known as:	Soapwort
Scientific name:	Saponaria officinalis
Family:	Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	Europe; naturalized
Habitat:	sun to part shade; roadsides, ditches, edges of streams
Bloom season:	summer, fall
Plant height:	12 to 30 inches
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Rice Creek Trail Corridor Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

Pick an image for a larger view. Most image enlargements are 50-100KB, though some may be larger. See the glossary for icon descriptions.

Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are about 1 inch across, 5 notched petals that spread out, then back as the flower ages. The color ranges from pale pink to white. 10 stamen protrude from the center. Behind the flower is a 1-inch long light green calyx. A small group of flowers cluster at the top of the main stem and at the end of side stems that branch from the upper leaf axils.

Leaves:

Leaves are generally oval or egg-shaped with pointed tips, up to 4 inches long and 2 inches wide, with little or no leaf stem. There are 3 prominent parallel veins. The leaf edges are smooth and usually somewhat wavy. Attachment is opposite but there are often smaller leaves growing from the leaf axils.

More photos

• full length of plant, about 30 inches tall

More pink wildflowers. Photos taken at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, Coon Rapids, MN and Pioneer Park, Blaine, MN, July-August 2007

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Ramsey County, or have any other comments about it?

Post a comment

Note: All comments are moderated before posting to keep the riff-raff out. An email address is required, but will not be posted—it will only be used for information exchange between the 2 of us (if needed) and will never be given to a 3rd party without your express permission.

Please: Do not ask about where to buy seed or other gardening questions, are plants edible, etc. I am not a horticulturist or botanist, just an enthusiastic hobbyist so I probably don't know the answer. Please check the links page for additional resources. -thanks much

Your Name:

Your email address: (required)

Comment: