soapberry
Sapindus saponaria
USDA zones9 to 11
SunHandles full sun to partial shade
WaterHandles dry to moist soil
Size20 to 40 feet tall20 to 40 feet wide
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn
- Bloom color
- Creamy-white to yellow-white
- Foliage color
- Green
- Fall color
- Yes
Garden uses
Notes
Soapberry (Sapindus saponaria) is a tree for specimen planting and woodland gardens. It grows outdoors year-round in USDA zone 9 and warmer, down to about 20°F (-7°C). In colder areas, grow it as a houseplant or bring it indoors for winter. This plant likes full sun to part shade and dry to moist soil. Deer tend to browse other plants first. It often suckers and forms groves, and birds eat the fruit. The fruit is poisonous to people.
Pairs well with Cedar elm, Shumard oak, Beautyberry, and Christmas fern.
Native range
Tropical Americas.