Soapwort

You are purchasing 20 Soapwort aka Saponaria officinalis seeds**. It's useful as a gentle detergent (cuts grease and fat) for silk and linen and can also get glass and china clean. The flowers have a spicy scent (which explains one of the common names, dog's cloves) and are especially aromatic in the evening, attracting attracts sphinx and hawk moths. Midsummer leaves and fall-harvested rhizomes are the soapiest, and they can be harvested and dried for later use. One part soapwort to 12 parts water is a good ratio. Dried roots might need to soak for an hour before releasing their soap. Then agitate the water and strain. Use within a day or so. Fresh soapwort makes the water green, but it's not a dye--will wash out in the rinse--and won't harm fibers. Its pH is neutral instead of alkaline, like regular soap, and gentler than regular soap. It's good for magical cleansing and in ancient times was used to repel witchcraft, probably on account of its cleansing abilities. Germination: See