Distribution: Occurring in scattered locations on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California; also in scattered states in the central and eastern U.S.
Habitat: Old gardens, waste sites and rocky places.
Flowers: June-July
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Butterflies, moths
Rhizomatous perennial with over-wintering leafy shoots, the stems procumbent, much-branched, 5-25 cm. tall.
Leaves opposite, the petiole 0.5-1 cm. long, not winged; blades 1-veined, spatulate to ovate-lanceolate, 0.6-2.5 cm. long and 0.3-1.4 cm. wide.
Inflorescence a spreading, lax cyme; pedicles 2-6 mm. long; calyx united into a tube 7-12 mm. long, purple, oblong-cylindric, glandular-pubescent; petals 5, red to pink or white, 8-15 mm. long, clawed; stamens 10, attached to the petals; styles 2, filiform, 12-15 mm. long.
Capsules cylindric to ovoid, 6-8 mm. long, opening by 4 teeth.
Publication: Sp. Pl. 1: 409. 1753.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Saponaria ocymoides in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Saponaria ocymoides checklist entry.
OregonFlora: Saponaria ocymoides information.
E-Flora BC: Saponaria ocymoides atlas page.
CalPhotos: Saponaria ocymoides photos.
USDA Plants: Saponaria ocymoides information.
