Distribution: Introduced throughout the United States; found on both sides of the Cascades in Washington.
Habitat: Roadsides and waste ground
Flowers: July - September
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Glabrous, rhizomatous, leafy perennial forming large clumps, the several simple stems 4-9 dm. tall.
Leaves opposite, entire, lanceolate to oblanceolate, 4-10 cm. long and 1.5-4 cm. broad, the cauline up to 20 pairs, short-petiolate or the upper sessile.
Flowers fragrant, often double, in a congested inflorescence; calyx tubular, 5-lobed, 15-20 mm. long, 20-nerved, often deeply cleft in 1-2 places; corolla white to pink, the claw equal to the calyx, the blade 10-15 mm. long, obovate, with 2 linear appendages near the base; stamens 10; styles 2.
Capsule 1-celled.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Saponaria officinalis in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Saponaria officinalis checklist entry.
E-Flora BC: Saponaria officinalis atlas page.
CalPhotos: Saponaria officinalis photos.
USDA Plants: Saponaria officinalis information.