Flower profile

Common soapwort

Saponaria officinalis

Common soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) is a flowering plant in the Caryophyllaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–September across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Common soapwort is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 9 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in July–September.

48states where USDA records it

9Bloomipedia state lists include it

27,956U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin

Quick look

Saponaria officinalis is a common perennial plant from the family Caryophyllaceae. This plant has many common names, including common soapwort, bouncing-bet, crow soap, and soapweed. There are about 20 species of soapworts altogether.
From Wikipedia's article Saponaria officinalis, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 48 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
In Michigan, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–September. ^iNaturalist
In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–September. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2.2 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 3,030 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #45 among the 172 flowers on our Michigan list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,584 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #93 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,197 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #65 among the 188 flowers on our Massachusetts list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,585 records)

Bloom time in the 9 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Michigan	Introduced	July–September	3,030
New York	Introduced	July–September	2,584
Massachusetts	Introduced	July–September	2,197
Wisconsin	Introduced	July–September	2,099
Indiana	Introduced	June–October	970
Vermont	Introduced	July–September	938
Connecticut	Introduced	few records (36)	524
Iowa	Introduced	few records (31)	286
Rhode Island	Introduced	few records (19)	286

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)

Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}

NatureServe global

GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe

State rare plant lists

Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 8 of our 9 states.

See each state

Michigan: Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Michigan. ^{R 299.1028}
New York: Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New York. ^{6 NYCRR § 193.3}
Massachusetts: Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Massachusetts. ^{MESA list}
Wisconsin: Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Wisconsin. ^{NR 27.03}
Vermont: Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Vermont. ^{Vermont E&T list}
Connecticut: Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Connecticut. ^{CT E/T/SC list}
Iowa: Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Iowa. ^{IAC 571-77.3}
Rhode Island: Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Rhode Island. ^{RI rare plants 2016}

Indiana

No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Indiana.

Rare elsewhere

No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: roots, seeds. Symptoms they list: “Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea” ^{NC State Extension}

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records common soapwort in 48 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

Michigan counties with USDA records: Alcona, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Barry, Bay, Benzie, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clinton, Crawford, Eaton, Emmet, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Houghton, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Keweenaw, Lake, Leelanau, Livingston, Luce, Macomb, Marquette, Mecosta, Menominee, Midland, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ontonagon, Oscoda, Ottawa, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne, Wexford.

New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Bronx, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Jefferson, Kings, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Nassau, New York, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, St. Lawrence, Suffolk, Ulster, Washington, Westchester, Yates.

Massachusetts counties with USDA records: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Common soapwort a medium shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.0 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -18 °F.

Shade tolerance: Medium
Drought tolerance: High
Moisture use: Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium
Soil pH range: 5.0 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated: -18 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 130
Annual precipitation range: 32 to 45 inches
Minimum root depth: 10 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by: container, sprigs
Commercial availability: No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for SAOF4. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Lychnis saponaria.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1249 counties across 47 states; the most are in Illinois (95), Virginia (95), Missouri (94).

More from the Caryophyllaceae family (9 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): White campion, Deptford pink, Fire pink, Star chickweed, Cardinal catchfly, Bladder campion, Moss campion, Maiden pink.

More Michigan flowers

Bladder campion

Silene vulgaris

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in MI: June–August

White campion

Silene latifolia

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in MI: May–August

Common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Native

🌼 Blooms in MI: June–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile SAOF4.
iNaturalist, Saponaria officinalis: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Saponaria officinalis (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
State rare and invasive plant lists (16):
Show all 16 state lists
- Michigan: Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023).
- Michigan: Michigan prohibited and restricted species (NREPA Part 413 and the 2026 Invasive Species Order), as listed by Michigan's Invasive Species Program.
- New York: New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3).
- New York: New York prohibited and regulated invasive species (6 NYCRR Part 575).
- Massachusetts: Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90).
- Massachusetts: Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List (MDAR) (Text from MDAR's 2023 scientific-name PDF (mass.gov blocks automated downloads); 2024-2026 additions listed on the mass.gov page: Alnus glutinosa, Pyrus calleryana, Miscanthus sinensis, Aralia elata, Rhodotypos scandens, Symplocos paniculata.).
- Wisconsin: Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03).
- Wisconsin: Wisconsin invasive species rule (Wis. Admin. Code NR 40.04 prohibited, NR 40.05 restricted).
- Indiana: Indiana prohibited invasive terrestrial plants (312 IAC 18-3-25).
- Vermont: Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022).
- Vermont: Vermont Quarantine List, Regulated Introduced Plant Species Rule (eff. June 16, 2026).
- Connecticut: Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list).
- Connecticut: Connecticut prohibited invasive plants (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-381d).
- Iowa: Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3).
- Iowa: Iowa noxious weeds (Iowa Code § 317.1A).
- Rhode Island: Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Saponaria officinalis (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Bruce Cook via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.