Max Frei Soapwort
Saponaria lempergii 'Max Frei'
Plant Height: 8 inches
Flower Height: 12 inches
Spacing: 10 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 2
Other Names: Rock Soapwort
Description:
An excellent plant for rock gardens and xeriscapes with loose cymes of large, rich rose-pink flowers in mid-summer; deep red stems and calyces contribute greatly to the effect; superior plant for rock gardens.
Ornamental Features
Max Frei Soapwort is covered in stunning cymes of rose star-shaped flowers with brick red calyces at the ends of the stems in mid summer. Its narrow leaves remain green in color throughout the year.
Landscape Attributes
Max Frei Soapwort is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.
This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting hummingbirds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Max Frei Soapwort is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Rock/Alpine Gardens
- Border Edging
- General Garden Use
- Container Planting
Planting & Growing
Max Frei Soapwort will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity extending to 12 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 10 inches apart. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.
This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in both summer and winter to conserve soil moisture and protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
Max Frei Soapwort is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
