Groundcover & Vines – Spreading – Rock Soapwort

Rock Soapwort

Botanical name: saponaria ocymoides 

Beginner friendly?: moderate 

Average size at maturity: 4-18 inches in height with a 1-2 ft spread 

Hardy zone: zones 2-9 

Growth rate: grows 6-12 inches per year 

Foliage color: green 

Flower color: pink

Bloom time:  spring, summer 

Pruning instructions: deadhead withered blooms and foliage as needed 

Propagation methods: propagate with cuttings during the spring and summer months 

Landscape use: groundcover, trailing perennial, borders/edging 

Special features: heat tolerant, long-lasting blooms

Light needs: 6 hours of sun per day 

Watering instructions: allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry out between watering sessions 

Fertilizing instructions : use a diluted liquid fertilizer that is high in phosphorus to encourage more blooms once a year in the early spring 

Best time to plant: spring 

Best type of soil: loam, sand 

Companion plants: creeping phlox, lavender, balloon flower 

Toxicity level: toxic for humans and pets if ingested 

Invasive species: no