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Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis)
Image ID: ar24
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Other common names: Soapwort
Introduced
Family:
Caryophyllaceae (Pink)
Height: 1 to 2.5 ft.
Blooms: July to
September
Leaf Type:
smooth
Bloom Size: 1 in. (typical)
Flower Description:
Flat or rounded clusters,
Regular blooms, 5 parts
Location: Allegheny River Trail
Date: 9/28/2002
More photos of this flower
Bouncing Bet may be
easily confused with:
- Garden Phlox
Garden phlox leaves occur in simple pairs, while those of bouncing bet has additional small leaflets emerging with the larger leaves. Bouncing bet petals are notably indented at the ends, while garden plhox petals are less so.
- Wild Blue Phlox
Petals of bouncing bet bend starply backwards. Wild blue phlox has whorls of small, narrow leaves, while bouncing bet has larger ovate leaves. Bouncing bet also occurs in hues of pink through blue, and white, while wild blue phlox is normally (duh) blue or lavender.
We started out as wildflowers from the bicycle trails of western Pennsylvania, but we've
grown!
Meyer, Joseph E. (1918). The Herbalist and Herb Doctor. Hammond, Ind.: Indiana Herb Gardens. 400 pp.
