Soapwort

You are purchasing 20 Soapwort aka Saponaria officinalis seeds**.

It's useful as a gentle detergent (cuts grease and fat) for silk and linen and can also get glass and china clean. The flowers have a spicy scent (which explains one of the common names, dog's cloves) and are especially aromatic in the evening, attracting attracts sphinx and hawk moths.

Midsummer leaves and fall-harvested rhizomes are the soapiest, and they can be harvested and dried for later use. One part soapwort to 12 parts water is a good ratio. Dried roots might need to soak for an hour before releasing their soap. Then agitate the water and strain. Use within a day or so. Fresh soapwort makes the water green, but it's not a dye--will wash out in the rinse--and won't harm fibers. Its pH is neutral instead of alkaline, like regular soap, and gentler than regular soap. It's good for magical cleansing and in ancient times was used to repel witchcraft, probably on account of its cleansing abilities.

Germination: Seed can be sown at most times of year, apart from the very hottest and coldest months. The ideal temperatures are around 15 to 20°C (59 to 68°F). They are best sown early, from November to March in gentle heat; the plant will be fully established before the following winter. They can be sown in June to July if placed out of direct sun. Germination usually takes 14 to 30 days.

Medicinal: Used in place of harsh soaps and gentle enough for dry skin issues. Can be used for flu and coughs (not recommended, do extensive research before attempting to use internally).

Spiritual Uses: magical cleansing

A lathery liquid that has the ability to dissolve fats or grease can be procured by boiling the leaves or roots in water. Take a large handful of leaves, bruise and chop them and boil for 30 minutes in 600 ml (20 US fl oz) of water; strain off the liquid and use this as you would washing-up liquid.

**Please Note** not all seeds maybe uniform in size and can vary. Do not discount the size of the seed as they are fresh and viable regardless. Each seed packet is checked for seed count prior to shipping out and for this reason we ship seed packets in clear packets so you the buyer can see the amount prior to opening the packet. If you have an issue with seed count do not open the packet. Instead contact us with a photo of the unopen packet for correction. Once open we will not send replacements.