| Author | Content |
htop
San Antonio, TX
(Zone 8b)
 September 10, 2004
11:23 AM Post #1044313
| Western Soapberry
Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii
The berries become translucent and the seed can be seen. Shown in September.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/62411/
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Toxicodendron
Piedmont, MO
(Zone 6a)
September 13, 2004
07:16 AM Post #1046941
| That's neat. They look like they have ice on them. Are they used to make soap? |
htop
San Antonio, TX
(Zone 8b)
September 13, 2004
09:42 AM Post #1047071
| The ripening berries are just beautiful at this stage. Yes, Natiive Americans used them for this purpose. My husband wanted me to collect a lot of them and try to make soap, but I said that I really didn't think I wanted to try it right now. Thanks for your comments. |
kareoke
Greensburg, IN
(Zone 6a)
September 13, 2004
01:28 PM Post #1047497
| I have never seen this plant befor, where can you purchase it. |
htop
San Antonio, TX
(Zone 8b)
September 13, 2004
03:14 PM Post #1047655
| kareoke, this is a tree that is native to Texas. It can be found at some nurseries specializing in native Texas plants. However, I do not think it is cold hardy in your zone. Thanks for your inquiry.
This message was edited Sep 14, 2004 12:19 AM |
Monocromatico
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
(Zone 11)
September 13, 2004
10:05 PM Post #1048208
| These fruits look just like the other Sapindus we have over here, S. saponaria. Except our species have orange to red fruits when ripe. They are kinda waxy, and smell like vinegar. Itīs very interesting. |
htop
San Antonio, TX
(Zone 8b)
September 14, 2004
01:37 AM Post #1048499
| kareoke, these trees are found in other states as well as Texas. You nay want to ask a nursery in your area and/or your agricultural extension service about whether it will grow there.
Monocromatico, I think this tree's name is Sapindus saponaria.var. drummondii. The S. saponaria fruit sound more interesting than this ones, but these are rather pretty too and they are also waxy. Are the leaves and flowers the same on the Sapindus saponaria? By the way, thanks for your member feedback comments. I will write something nice about you too. |
Monocromatico
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
(Zone 11)
September 14, 2004
09:51 AM Post #1048729
| Nope, the leaves are different. S. drummondii seems to have more marked venation, and the leaflets look longer. S. saponaria has smooth and short leaflets. These fruits are a bit oblong, while our S. saponaria has round fruits, more like Jeff Beck's picture. They both look pretty in their special way. |
htop
San Antonio, TX
(Zone 8b)
September 14, 2004
03:09 PM Post #1049116
| Thanks for the information. |
hulahawaii
Kaunakakai, HI
May 05, 2007
01:12 AM Post #3464734
| Hello All, I found this site while looking for a source of Western Soapberry seeds. I live on Molokai in the Hawaiian islands. I am a member of a Hula dancing troop here. We use these round black seeds as part of our hula costume...for our leis. There was one tree growing here on Molokai but the owner cut it down. So now we are in need of Soapberry seeds. Does anyone know where we can purchase a pound or two of seeds? Thank you for reading my post. Alooooooha, Mary |
ilima
Clyde/Fines Creek, NC
(Zone 5b)
May 05, 2007
01:40 AM Post #3464740
| Hi Mary,
I did a little research by going to the plant ID page for the Soapberry. One vendor has this plant for sale, perhaps you could buy seed in quantity from them and then plant a few new ones on Molokai.
http://davesgarden.com/ps/go/62411/
There is also a native Hawaiian species of Soapberry, Sapindus oahuensis called aulu, kaulu or lonomea in Marie C. Neals book with oblong black seeds. It is native to Oahu and Kauai. Even better if you could find seeds of that to plant.
ilima
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htop
San Antonio, TX
(Zone 8b)
May 06, 2007
01:07 AM Post #3467646
| Hola, Mary. I am happy that you found Dave's Garden. Welcome. I sure don't know if this tree has the same kind of seeds that you are looking for. I tnink the seeds won't be ripe now on the trees here. The trees bloom in the spring. I would pick some for you if they are what you ar searching for and if I could send them out of Texas. I'll see if I can find some seeds. If I do, I'll take a photograph of them to post here to show you what they like like. |
hulahawaii
Kaunakakai, HI
May 17, 2007
08:08 PM Post #3508881
| Thank you so much for your interest and time in trying to help us find Soapberry seeds for the hula troop. The seed we are looking for is round and black. I will check out your leads. Mahalo and Aloha, Mary |
htop
San Antonio, TX
(Zone 8b)
May 18, 2007
12:30 AM Post #3509876
| Mary,
I haven't found any yet. I am so sorry. I will keep looking.
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htop
San Antonio, TX
(Zone 8b)
May 26, 2007
09:20 PM Post #3539713
| Mary, I found just a few seeds on the plants that I have found which are blooming right now. I guess I have checked at least 50 trees for seeds and have found only about 20 still left on them so far. Most have already fallen and I can't search the ground because there are waist high weeds growing around most of them. I will keep searching and maybe I will find some trees where I can gather the seed from below them if there are any.
The seeds are a little over 1 cm long and a little over 1/2 a cm wide at the widest part. They are sort of pear-shaped. I will take a photo of them when the sun comes out. We have had cloudy days and my camera does not take good photos when it is cloudy. |
