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Bouncing Bet or Soapwort
Saponaria officinalis		  
Family Pink  (Caryophyllaceae)
Bloom Summer, Fall
Habitat Roadsides, fields, meadows
Status Non-Native
Cycle Perennial
Height 12-24"
Flower There are several white or pink flowers 1" wide forming open clusters.  Each flower has 5 heart-shaped petals.  The base of the blossom is a long green tube.
Leaf Leaves are narrow, 2-3" long with a pointed tip and parallel veins.
Notes Bouncing Bet is often seen growing in patches along the roadside.  Its flowers look similar to phlox.  It is also called soapwort because the roots contain saponin, a chemical that becomes slippery and sudsy when wet.  It was once used to make soap.  It spreads by underground roots (rhizomes) but also produces large amounts of black seeds.

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