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Saponaria officinalis is native to Eurasia, but it has done very well for itself in North America.

The scientific name Saponaria derives from the Latin for soap; indeed, soapwort can be boiled to make a mild detergent, and has historically been used as a rinse, a treatment for raw wool, and even as a very mild textile cleanser in the museum industry.

But perhaps Saponaria’s most interesting use is as a mild shampoo, and though it is not nearly as fragrant as the flowers, simply boiling the plant’s leaves and flowers is enough to make a soapy, pleasant rinse.

Though the flowers are somewhat fragrant throughout the day, Saponaria pulls out the stops at dusk.

SAPONÀRIA, L. Calyx narrowly ovoid or oblong, 5-toothed, obscurely nerved, naked.