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Native Plant Database

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Sapindus saponaria (Wingleaf soapberry)
Lytle, Melody

Sapindus saponaria L.

Wingleaf soapberry, Soapberry, Wild China tree

Sapindaceae (Soapberry Family)

USDA Symbol: sasa4

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A large shrub or tree with poisonous fruit.

The poisonous fruit, containing the alkaloid saponin, has been used as a soap substitute for washing clothes. Necklaces and buttons are made from the round dark brown seeds, and baskets are made from the wood, which splits easily. The common name, Wild China Tree, comes from the resemblance of its fruit clusters to the Chinaberry Tree (Melia azedarach), an Asian tree brought to North America for landscaping but now naturalized and considered invasive.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Flower:
Fruit:

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CO , FL , GA , HI , KS , LA , MO , MS , NM , OK , TX
Native Distribution: Southern United States from Arizona west to Kansas, Texas, and Florida; to 6,000 (1,829 m).
Native Habitat: Moist soils along streams and on limestone uplands, in and bordering hardwood forests; westward in plains and mountains, grassland, upper desert, and oak woodland zones.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), HI(N), PR(N), VI(N)

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Sapindus saponaria is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Soapberry Hairstreak
(Phaeostrymon alcestis)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Drought-Tolerant Trees for South-Central Texas
February 09, 2010
I would like to replace two Golden Rain Trees with native ornamentals. They should be highly drought tolerant and should not exceed 25 feet in height. They will need to be tough since they will get ...
view the full question and answer

Sapindus drummondii or Rhus aromatica for Austria
May 07, 2006
Hy! I'm from Austria/Europe, and interested in some North American native plants specially. It would be great if you can help me with my two questions: Sapindus drummondii I read from different...
view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX
Jacob's Well Natural Area - Wimberley, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Sapindus saponaria in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Sapindus saponaria in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Sapindus saponaria

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-10-25
Research By: TWC Staff

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