Soapy flowers - this is how we called the carnation plant with small pink and white flowers as children. It was a soap dish. Moreover, this name is not accidental, because rubbing the flowers between wet hands, we received soap foam, which could "wash" the hands. It is unlikely that we did this for hygienic reasons - we were interested in the process of soaping without soap.
Then I already learned that the roots of this plant also perfectly soap in the water, forming a foam, so they are used to make soap, shampoo.
Mylnianka, what species exist, description
This flower has a different, scientific name - saponaria.
Saponarium (soap dish) there are many species, but only two of them are most widespread among gardeners - medicinal (ordinary soap dish) and basil leaf. I must say that even though these plants are close relatives, they are not very similar to each other.
The medicinal plant (we lathered our hands with its flowers) grows quite high and can reach a height of up to 1 m, its leaves are narrow, long.
Mylnyanka officinalis, photo:
A basil-leaved soap dish has a very small growth, about 15 cm, and oval small leaves.
Saponaria basilica, Moondust, photo:
Basiliculate has a bright aroma, and besides, it is a wonderful honey plant, therefore it attracts pollinating insects to the plot, without which neither the garden nor the garden can do. The stems of basil leaves of the saponaria are reddish in color, but the flowers can be of different colors: white, pink, fuchsia, but always very tender and fragrant.
A stately, tall medicinal saponaria will decorate a front garden under windows or a common flowerbed, being planted closer to the center.
But the miniature basilicollis is always ready to take its place on the alpine hill or along the tracks.
Saponaria basiliculus, photo:
Saponaria, landing and care, photo
Saponaria is sown in early spring or before winter (in October-November). It is often advised to plant a plant in a seedling manner, but such difficulties, a waste of time, are completely inappropriate. Mylnianka will grow beautifully right in the open ground: it is not afraid of either cold, rain, or heat. For abundant flowering, the plant needs only a sunny place, loose earth. If the soil on the site is clay or chernozem, then sand, bone meal or sawdust should be added under the planting of the saponaria. Special care for saponaria is not needed, it tolerates drought well, so it can be watered only occasionally. In this case, do not forget to remove weeds, loosen the ground. The base-leaf soap dish tolerates pruning, the plant can be formed and give it different shapes.
If you add gravel or expanded clay under the plants, the saponaria will only benefit from this, because it easily grows on rocky soils, but weeds, on the contrary, will not like pebbles.
Saponaria grows in one place for about 8 years. If necessary, propagate it by seeds or by dividing an adult bush, blooms for quite a long time from June to September. When it fades, on it appear boxes filled with seeds, which after a while get enough sleep. From them in the spring new plants will grow. But such self-seeding is not at all a minus, because in winter the saponaria often vomits, and the scattered seeds are a guarantee that the plant will not be transferred. Well, for those who need to prevent the plant from sowing, they can simply cut off the green part of the saponaria after flowering along with unopened bolls and unripe seeds.
Collection and harvesting of medicinal saponaria
Saponaria can be used as a medicine (tea from soap dish helps with diseases of the respiratory tract and bronchitis, treat liver and stomach diseases with decoction) and as a soap. To harvest this useful raw materials begin in October. Dug and washed roots are cut into pieces (2-3 cm each) and, after drying, stored in a dry place.
Beauty, aroma, unpretentiousness, domestic use speak of the use of soap dish, so you should not think about planting it for a long time, and you can buy seeds in any gardening store.
Choose any, your flower garden will only win!