Saponaria officinalis L.
Bouncing Bet
Bouncing Bet, or Saponaria officinalis, is a common perennial plant known for its soap-like properties. It has leafy, unbranched stems and broad, lanceolate leaves that are opposite and between 4-12 cm long. The plant grows in patches up to 70 cm tall and produces sweetly scented, pink or white flowers that are radially symmetrical. The flowers are arranged in dense clusters and have a tubular calyx with five pointed red teeth. The plant is native to Europe and Asia, growing in cool places at low or moderate elevations under hedgerows and along roadways. It blooms from May to September in the Northern Hemisphere and October to March in the Southern Hemisphere.
Details
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllaceae
Saponaria
Saponaria officinalis contains saponins, including the flavone saponarin. Saponins are toxic substances that can cause nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting if ingested in large amounts. The plant produces a lather when in contact with water due to these saponins.
Bouncing Bet has been traditionally used as a gentle soap for cleaning delicate textiles, especially woollen fabrics. It is also used in the commercial preparation of tahini and in brewing to create beer with a good head. In the Middle East, the root is used as an additive in making halva. Medicinally, it has been used to treat dry skin.
May to September in the Northern Hemisphere, October to March in the Southern Hemisphere
70 cm
Pink or white
Cool places at low or moderate elevations under hedgerows and along roadways
Info
Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.
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