NICE! Plant of the Month
(Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii)
Family: Sapindaceae
Type: Deciduous tree
Natural Habitat: Wide variety of habitats throughout Texas and neighboring states.
Growth: 10-50 feet, small to medium-sized tree in the Hill Country.
Deer Resistance: Deer will browse on young trees; enclose tree with a wire cage.
Wildlife: Bluebirds feast on the berries; host to the soapberry hairstreak butterfly.
Light Tolerance: Part shade, full sun
Flowers: Small, cream-colored in large clusters, 6-10 inches long
Bloom Period: April-June
Leaves: Long, narrow, compound leaves that turn yellow, lemon, gold, and pumpkin in the fall. The leaves may be poisonous.
Soil Requirements: Well-drained sand, loam, clay, caliche, or limestone; tolerates poor soil.
Maintenance: Moderate growth rate. When young, soapberry might sucker and form groves. If you keep the suckers cut off, they will eventually stop. Disease resistant.
Planting Instructions: Space plants 12-20 feet apart. Dig a hole at least two times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Sides of the hole should be irregular, not smooth. Remove plant from container, taking care to support the root ball. Loosen exterior roots gently with your fingers. If the plant is root-bound and cannot be loosened by hand, the outer roots may be cut in several places. Lift the plant by the root ball and place into the hole. Backfill hole, using soil that was dug out. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball. Gently firm the soil with your hands, but do not tamp it down. Place 3-4 inches of mulch over the bare soil around, but not touching the base of the plant.
Watering Instructions: Water deeply after planting to settle soil around roots. Then every 7-10 days, as needed, during the first growing season. Before watering, check for soil moisture at a depth of an inch or two at the edge of the root ball. Skip a watering after a rainfall of ½ to 1 inch. Maintain this watering schedule until the first fall. Reduce watering during the cool fall and winter months. In a “normal” year, no watering may be necessary during the fall and winter, but during a dry period, monthly watering may be needed. Second spring and thereafter: Water monthly only during periods of drought. Once established, natives will survive with little supplemental irrigation.
NICE! Tip: The long, narrow leaves give this tree an airy look. This is one of the best trees in the state for dependable fall color. The white spring and summer flowers grow in dense inflorescences.
Villagers in Mexico use the berries, which contain saponin, for laundry soap and to stun fish, making them easier to catch. The berries also are used to make a yellow dye for wool. The saponins can cause a rash in sensitive individuals, and ingesting them could cause intestinal problems.
Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.
