17 Plants Highest in Saponins

I’ve been thinking about the coolness of having some saponin rich plants which I could use as a body wash and laundry soap. Wouldn’t it be so great to be able to go out into your yard and pick a handful of roots or flowers, and rub them between your palms to wash up?

There are quite a few plants that have enough saponins to produce a nice lather, but I’m going to highlight a few that have particularly caught my eye.

You might remember that I wrote about the Soapberry Tree a while back. Soapberry Trees produce those well-known Soap Nuts that lots of people enjoy washing their laundry with. But trees take a long time to grow to maturity. Planting a nice cluster of small, fast growing soap flowers is a great alternative.

Here are some of the top plants that are high in saponins – as well as some tips for making your own soap with them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBvyctFpGcM

What Are Saponins?

Saponins are a class of naturally-occurring chemicals that have a wide range of effects. They are glycosides that can be found in a wide variety of plants, including several species of soapwort. When some of these compounds are mixed with water and KOH or NaOH (so with sodium or potassium hydroxide), they form a soapy lather.

This surfactant action is due to the saponins’ ability to lower the surface tension of water. Some of these saponins are also thought to have some insecticidal and herbicidal activity… though keep in mind the plants, as well as the saponins they contain, are chemically diverse.

For many years, soapwort was the main source of saponins for soap production, with the resulting soap being used a lot to wash wool (among other things). Today, though, most soapmakers use other plant-derived or synthetic saponins. When used in this way, the saponin-rich roots or leaves are boiled in water to extract their surfactant properties. And soapwort isn’t your only option!

Below, I’ll detail a few other saponin-rich plants you can use to make your own soap. Let’s start off with a table showing the average amounts of saponins in each plant – though these numbers can vary a lot depending on the cultivar, growing conditions, climate, and more…

Plant	Scientific Name	Approx. Saponin Content (% dry weight)
Licorice root	Glycyrrhiza glabra	3 – 10% glycyrrhizin
Quillaja (soapbark)	Quillaja saponaria	9 – 10%
Yucca	Yucca schidigera	8 – 10%
Primula	Primula spp.	5 – 10%
Fenugreek	Trigonella foenum-graecum	4 – 6%
Sugar beet leaves	Beta vulgaris	5.8%
Eggplant	Solanum melongena	5.8%
American ginseng (mature leaves)	Panax quinquefolius	4.14 – 5.58%
Bracken fern	Pteridium aquilinum	3.7%
Soapwort	Saponaria officinalis	2 – 5%
American ginseng (roots)	Panax quinquefolius	2.44 – 3.88%
Crocus (saffron plant)	Crocus sativus	2 – 3.4%
Alfalfa (sprouts / young growth)	Medicago sativa	0.1 – 1.7%
Soybean (some cultivars)	Glycine max	0.2 – 0.5%
Quinoa (bitter varieties)	Chenopodium quinoa	0.14 – 2.3%

Top Plants Highest in Saponins

Amole Lily

The Amole Lily, also known as the Soap Plant, Soap Lily, or California Soaproot, is an amazingly useful plant.

Both the Indians and the early pioneers used it as a soap. They stripped the outer coating from the bulb and used the crushed pulp to wash with. It makes an excellent lather. As a shampoo, it leaves the hair soft and silky. The large bulbs are covered with a thick, fibrous, coconut-like husk, which was used for brushes by the Indians. Also used as a poison oak remedy.

Horizon Herbs

As a side note, the saponins of this plant are toxic to fish, which is why it was used to stun them.

These perennials typically grow between 24-36 in tall, and should be spaced 18-24 in apart. They prefer to grow in full sun, in rocky soil or clay. It’s native to California and Oregon, but it will grow anywhere where it doesn’t get below -15*.

Soapwort

Soapwort or Bouncing Bet is a beautiful flower used in many English gardens. If you soak the whole plant, but particularly the root in warm water, it will produce a gentle, sudsy wash water. You can also boil the plant and roots to produce a nice soapy solution.

For a quick wash, rub the leaves or root with water for a reasonable lather. This plant is great for washing delicate items and baby clothing, but it would not be suitable for bathing a baby as the suds will irritate the eyes, and it should not be swallowed.

Grows best in full sun, and well drained soil. Hardy in zones 2a to 8b. Spreads readily.

Yucca (Soaptree)

The trunk and crushed roots of the soapweed yucca or yucca glauca are exceptionally concentrated with saponins, and make a fine soap or hydrating shampoo. The dried leaves can also be made into baskets, sandals and rope.

Yucca thrives in the Southwest region of the US, but also in Canada. It can tolerate temperatures between -40 ºF (-42 ºC) to 105 ºF (40 ºC). Requires full sun and fast draining soil.

You can order all of these plants/seeds from Horizon Herbs. Personally, I’ll be ordering the Amole Lily and the Soapwort. I’d like to experiment with them both, and see which I like the best. Unfortunately, Yucca probably wouldn’t grow too well here in the Southeast.

English Ivy

English Ivy (Hedera helix) is a widely planted evergreen vine that is prized for its dense foliage and ability to climb walls and other structures. However, English Ivy is also high in saponins.

The problem with this plant, and the reason you can’t use it to make soap, is that it is a known allergen and skin irritant.

Horse Chestnuts

Horse Chestnuts are a type of tree that is native to parts of Europe, Asia, and northwestern Africa. The tree produces large, spiky fruits that contain large seeds. These seeds are rich in saponins, which is why it’s on this list.

The other reason why horse chestnut is includes is because you can make laundry “soap”. Soap may not be the best way to call it, but rather, a saponins-based detergent or cleanser. Sometimes it’s used as a skin cleanser, though most of the time, it seems to be used for laundry…

Bracken

This is one plant traditionally used to make soap, but one I highly recommend not to try. Indeed, it’s use has been documented as far back as medieval times in Europe (England, Scotland, France, etc.), but the plant’s saponins were not merely extracted to make soap.

What people did instead, was they burned the plant to make the so-called potash (potassium carbonate and other alkaline salts), and then they would use the ash to make soap…

Ragged Robin

The ragged robin plant (Silene flos-cuculi) is a wildflower that grows in damp meadows and woods across much of Europe. It’s easily recognizable by its pink flowers, which have five petals that are deeply divided into ragged lobes.

This one has its saponins particularly in its roots, and the way you extract them is by simply boiling the root in water. use this one to make laundry soap, and avoid washing yourself with soaps that contain it.

White Campion (Silene latifolia)

This is a flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. It grows to a height of about two feet and has a short, stalky root system. The leaves are opposite, oblong, and have toothed margins. The stems are hairy and sticky. The flowers have five petals and are borne in clusters. The fruit is a capsule with many seeds.

But you’re not here for the description, are you? You want to know if you can use it to make soap and, in this, case, you most certainly can! White campion has been used to make soap for a long time by mashing the roots and then boiling them.

You can see similar reports on Red Campion being used to make “soap” and even use that soap to wash one’s hair, but both can be used to do laundry. There aren’t any documented uses of this type of cleanser being used as a body or face wash.

I would not advise you use this plant to make actual soap. Instead, you can make this laundry and hair cleanser, and it’s actually pretty easy if you follow tradition. You need to mash the roots, simmer (not hard) boil them in water to extract the saponins, strain, and then use the liquid.

Soap Nuts (Sapindus spp.)

Soap nut plants are a natural source of saponins, which are a class of compounds that have soap-like properties. For centuries, saponins have been used as a natural alternative to conventional detergents and soaps.

These days, soap nuts are commonly used in eco-friendly laundry detergents and sometimes in shampoos. But, of more interest to us, they can also be used to make a plant-based cleanser at home. Note that this is not actual soap, it’s more of a cleanser…

To do this, simply simmer the soap nuts in water to release the saponins, just like you would with the White Campion plant above. And the usage advice is the same as above: avoid using it on the face or skin, and try it on your hair or, better yet, on your laundry.

Clematis

While clematis plants can be found in many parts of the world, they are most commonly associated with Asia. Clematis plants can be difficult to grow, but once established, they are relatively low maintenance.

In traditional Chinese medicine, clematis plants are used to treat a variety of ailments including skin infections and wounds. The saponins in Clematis are thought to have some insecticidal properties.

You know what that means, right? There are no documented uses of this plant being used as a cleanser, in spit of its saponins content and traditional uses in other areas. You can go ahead and skip it.

Ceanothus spp. (Mountain lilac, Redstem ceanothus, Catalina mountain lilac, etc.)

Mountain lilac (Ceanothus velutinus), also known as snowbrush, is a shrub native to the western United States. It grows in mountainous regions from California to Alaska. The plant has lance-shaped leaves and clusters of white or blue flowers.

Then you have Redstem ceanothus (Ceanothus sanguineus), whose flowers are known to foam “when shaken with water”.

Yet another plant of this species, Ceanothus thyrsiflorus, has also been used to make a cleanser from water and its dried leaves… and this one is actually delicate enough to be used on the body and face. The Pomo, a Californian Native American tribe, would simply soak the flowers in water, then rub them on their face to produce a saponins- rich lather.

Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila paniculata)

Baby’s breath plants, often used in bouquets and arrangements, are one of the highest source of saponins on this list.

These pretty flowers are native to Europe and Asia, and they have been used medicinally for centuries. The dried flowers can be added to hot water to make a tea, and the roots can be steeped in cold water overnight and then used in soap-making recipes.

Wild Mock Orange

Wild mock orange plants are a good source of saponins, and they can be used to make a variety of different types of soap. These plants are also a good choice for making glycerin soap, as the saponins help to emulsify the oils and create a rich, creamy lather.

Buffaloberry

The buffaloberry plant (Shepherdia argentea) is a shrub native to North America. It is closely related to the soapberry tree (Sapindus saponaria), which is also used for soap making.

Buffaloberry plants are high in saponins, which are natural surfactants that can be used to make soap. The berries can be crushed and mixed with water to create a sudsy solution, which can be used for cleaning clothes, dishes, or skin.

In addition to being a good source of saponins, buffaloberry plants are also nitrogen-fixers, meaning they help to improve the quality of the soil.

California Soaproot

California Soaproot (Chlorogalum pomeridianum) is a common flowering plant in the western United States. The saponins present in the plant’s roots and leaves can be used to make soap.

In fact, this plant was a primary source of soap for Native Americans and early settlers in California. The plants grow best in full sun and well-drained soil.

California Soaproot typically blooms in late spring or early summer. The white flowers are borne on tall stalks and are pollinated by a variety of insects, including bees, butterflies, and moths.

Wild Yam

Wild yam plants have long been used in the soap-making process. In recent years, though, wild yam plants have also been used for other purposes, such as making food and cosmetics. The plant’s saponin content makes it a versatile ingredient with a range of potential uses.

Soapbush Tree

Last but not least, the Soapbush Tree. This is a species of plant that is indigenous to parts of North and South America.

The tree gets its name from the fact that it produces saponins. In fact, saponin was historically used by Native Americans for this purpose.

Today, the Soapbush Tree is still harvested for its saponin content. The tree’s leaves and bark are boiled in water to extract the saponin, which is then used to create natural soap products.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and eco-friendly option for soap-making, consider using saponin from the Soapbush Tree.

How to Use These Plants to Make Soap

To make soap from these plants, the first step is to extract the saponin. This can be done by simmering the plant material in water for several hours. Once that is done, it can be combined with fat and lye to create soap. When added to hot oils or fats, they react with the oil molecules to create soap. This is known as saponification.

The exact proportions will vary depending on the plant being used, but a typical recipe would call for 1 part saponin to 2 parts fat to 3 parts lye.

Soap made these plants is often gentler on the skin than traditional soap, making it a good choice for people with sensitive skin.

Final Thoughts

These are just a couple of the plants you can get a lather from. There are many others you can find, including more common ones like kidney beans, chickpeas, asparagus, alfalfa, soybeans, and more.

Just keep in mind these don’t tend to be as useful for soap making due to lower quantities and differing properties (though they do offer their own unique health benefits).

Have you had a chance to play with getting a soapy lather from any plants? What’s your favorite saponin rich greenery?