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Saponaria ocymoides

Rock Soapwort · Tumbling-Ted

Family CaryophyllaceaeGenus Saponaria

A sprawling mat of small pink five-petalled flowers opening from red hairy tubes, among rounded green leaves.
FlowerHans HillewaertCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Ground Cover, Herbaceous Perennial, ShrubExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
subshrubPlants of the World Online
Height
6-9 in15-25 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-2 ft30-60 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, Purple/LavenderExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Austria, Corse, France, Germany, Italy, NW. Balkan Pen. and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
2-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Ocymoides means "resembling basil", but the likeness is only on the surface and the two are not closely related. Rock soapwort, also called tumbling Ted, belongs to the same family as pinks and carnations. Wikipedia: Saponaria ocymoides

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 18, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 17, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 20 days to germinate.

86% germination in 4–20 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Saponaria p. 75Public domain
Show the original text
Saponaria (Caryophyllaceae). S. ocymoides seeds DS 6 m germ. 70L(86% in 4-20 d) and 70D(50% in 4-8 d). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(50% in 1-3 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Saponaria p. 75. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 30, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 29, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 8 days to germinate.

50% germination in 4–8 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Saponaria p. 75Public domain
Show the original text
Saponaria (Caryophyllaceae). S. ocymoides seeds DS 6 m germ. 70L(86% in 4-20 d) and 70D(50% in 4-8 d). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(50% in 1-3 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Saponaria p. 75. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 16, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 15, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

50% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Saponaria p. 75Public domain
Show the original text
Saponaria (Caryophyllaceae). S. ocymoides seeds DS 6 m germ. 70L(86% in 4-20 d) and 70D(50% in 4-8 d). Seeds DS 1 y germ. 70D(50% in 1-3 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Saponaria p. 75. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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