Bouncingbet

Bouncingbet

Saponaria officinalis

Information Sheet (PDF)

Eradication Zone Map (pdf)

Colorado List B - Control required in Jefferson County

General

• Common names: Soapwort, Sweet William
• Family:  Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
• Introduced from Europe as an ornamental

Habitat

• Colony forming
• Found in wet areas, roadsides, disturbed areas
• Perennial forb

Plant

Vegetation

• Leaves one half to 1 inch wide and 2 to 4 inches long. Opposite with 3 veins from base
• Plant to 3 feet tall

Roots

• Rhizome
• Spreading

Flower

• one half to 1 inch wide
• 5 petals, slightly notched
• Dense groups at end of branches
• July to September
• White to pink

Seed

• Many

Seedling

• Late spring

Reproduction

• Seed
• Rhizomes

Control

Biological

• None

Chemical

• View Information Sheet (PDF)

Cultural

• Prevention - maintain health of site
• Removal - bag and dispose of plants if seeds have started to develop

Mechanical

• Burning - N/A
• Grazing - N/A - This plant is poisonous
• Mowing - Young plants prior to flower formation

Use all chemicals according to the manufacturer’s label. No specific recommendation or endorsement is made or implied by listing methods or products.