Wingleaf Soapberry
Sapindus saponaria
- Native to:
- Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cayman Is., Colombia, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Marquesas, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Society Is., Southwest Caribbean, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Tuamotu, United States, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.
Francisco Manuel Blanco (O.S.A.)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Genus:
- Sapindus
- Species:
- Sapindus saponaria
- USDA Symbol:
- SASA4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 1500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella), Oslar's eacles (Eacles oslari), Phaeostrymon alcestis
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from roots after fire damage; tolerates periodic fire in native rangeland settings.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to tropical and subtropical regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Scarification of the hard seed coat greatly improves germination. Soaking in hot water or mechanical scarification recommended.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are planted in 72 cell trays using a commercial potting medium.
Establishment: Fruits are collected from the ground and should rattle when shaken, indicating that the mesocarp has released the seeds. Seeds were collected from all four known trees in both locations. S. saponaria is common and widely distributed in tropical America and spread further in cultivation. On the island of St. Croix, only 4 individuals are known.
Source: npn.rngr.net