Soapberry
Sapindus saponaria
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Details & Attributes
| Plant Type(s) | Shrub |
| Native to Arizona | Yes! |
| Water Needs | Moderate-high |
| Sun | Full sun, partial shade |
| Pollinators | Bees, butterflies |
| Has Spines | No |
| Size In relative feet, width by height |
8-15'+ × patch forming |
| Freeze Tolerant | Yes |
| Flowering Season | May-July |
| Flower Color | White |
| Minimum Temperature Range | 0-5 °F |
| Leaf Description | Deciduous (drops leaves in winter), compound and slightly curved (falcate). |
| Fruit | Orange, transparent fruits with smooth brown seeds. |
| View on SEINet | View SEINet Entry |
| Range Map | View SEINet Range Map |
| Elevation Range | 2500-5500 ft. |
| Description | An upright shrub to small tree with compound leaves, clusters of small white flowers, and orange fruits with a large brown seed inside. This species is most often associated with moist habitats along cienegas or canyons where it forms patches of single stemmed suckers rarising from the root system. This species lends itself to a greywater bed where extra moisture can push growth and help production of the berries which are poisonous to humans but a good food source for birds. Flowers will attract butterflies, and the foliage of the plant serves as a larval food source for several species of butterflies. |
