SAPONARIA vaccaria White Beauty
SAPONARIA vaccaria White Beauty
1 yr old seeds
A very pretty flower that works great as a filler as well as . Considered a “cool flower” or hardy annual and it also can be a hardy perennial ( that might sound confusing, it can be a perennial if planted in the right location, it can also be grown as an annual if you wish to use it for cut flowers) that you can sow in August for flowers the following Spring. Can also be sown as an annual. It is one to experiment with as it benefits from the cold weather. Also known as soapwort for its use for centuries as a natural soap (using the leaves and roots). I have it on my list to give this a try in 2022! It is important to grow away from rivers/ponds as saponins can be toxic to amphibians and fish.
Genus: Saponaria Species: vaccaria Variety:White Beauty
Colour: Pink
Flowers: June, July, August, September, October
When to sow : Can be sown late summer/autumn (this will depend on your location so worth trying it as a “cool flower” and in early Spring to flower the same year.
Sow: July-Nov for overwintering, Jan- March. I have found details of growers who succession sow every few weeks through the year (treating it as an annual and not a perennial). I will be experimenting with it in 2022 to see what works in an Irish climate.
Germination Instructions Sow indoors in a greenhouse/coldframe or indoors in autumn or sow indoors at any time. In a cold frame, sow onto moist, well-drained seed compost. Just cover seed with a sprinkling of soil. Allow natural winter cold to offer ideal conditions for germination to occur in spring as the weather warms. Indoors, surface sow and place in a propagator or somewhere warm, ideal temp 16-18°C. for 2-4 weeks then cold stratify. Move to -4-+4°C for 4-6 weeks, a fridge is ideal. Remove to warmth, 5-12°C for germination. Harden off and plant out after danger of frost has passed.
For sowing in Jan onwards I suggest popping seed packet into a freezer bag into the fridge or freezer for a few days before sowing in trays to mimic the natural process.
Growing Instructions Prefers normal soil which is well draining. Where to grow it does depend on if you want to treat it as a perennial or an annual. As a perennial it does spread so keep this in mind when picking a location. It is propagated by softwood cuttings. Saponaria prefers full sun. Winter survival is dependent on the plant growing in well-drained soil . Do not fertilize during growing season. Clumps may be easily divided in late summer or early spring.
Cultivation Instructions This will depend on if you are growing as a perennial or an annual.
Seed contents - approx 600 seeds ( weighed by grams)