Soapwort

Soapwort is a herbaceous perennial found along riverbanks and ditches or within forests and undergrowth. This hermaphrodite plant produces white or pink fragrant flowers, attracting butterflies for pollination. Historically, its leaves and rhizomes, rich in saponins, were utilized for their cleansing and foaming properties, particularly in cleaning woolens and bleaching thread and lace. Soap can even be made by boiling the whole plant, especially the rhizome, in water. These uses were well recognized in Roman times and have been noted throughout history.