Soapwort

Soapwort is a herbaceous perennial found in ditches, forests, undergrowth and on riverbanks. It is a hermaphrodite plant producing white or pink fragrant flowers which are pollinated by butterflies. In times past, the leaves and rhizomes—which have cleansing and foaming properties thanks to their content of saponins—were used for cleaning woolens, and bleaching thread and lace. Soap can be made from soapwort by boiling the whole plant (particularly the rhizome) in water.