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Summary
Other common names include Soapberry, Soapnut Tree, and Soap-nut Tree of North India. Chinese Soapberry, Sapindus mukorossi, is a fast-growing tropical deciduous tree native from India to Japan that grows about 10-20m tall. Its bole is straight, cylindrical, and can be up to 60cm in diameter. The flowers are small, white and occurs in large panicles. The fruits are smooth and yellow to orange. The plant is medicinally used in the treatment of epilepsy, burns, head lice, dental problems, etc. The seeds are edible, usually crushed and boiled and used in desserts. Seed kernels can be used as fertilizer after seed oil extraction. Due to its high saponin content, the fruits can be used as substitute for soap and for restoring and brightening tarnished silverware. Powdered seeds have insecticidal properties. The wood is used for making furniture, boards, plywood, etc. It is also used for fuel and charcoal-making.
Physical Characteristics
Sapindus mukorossi is a deciduous Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. The flowers are pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Sapindus detergens Roxb. Sapindus utilis Trab.
Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:
The seeds are crushed and boiled to make a liquid that is added to certain kinds of Indian milk sweets, known as 'rasgullas'[301 ]. This adds a frothy quality to the dessert[301 ]. The seeds have been used to bleach cardamom seeds, this treatment is reported to improve the flavour as well as the colour of the spice[301 ].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Epilepsy Expectorant Haemolytic Odontalgic Parasiticide
The fruit and seeds are regarded as a cure for epilepsy in northern India[303 ]. A decoction of the fruit is used as an expectorant[303 ]. A lather of the fruit is used to treat burns[272 ]. The lather is also used as a soap to wash the hair and rid it of lice[307 ]. The seeds are used in China to stop dental caries[303 ]. The fruit is considered to be haemolytic[303 ].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Beads Charcoal Fertilizer Fuel Furniture Hair Insecticide Parasiticide Soap Soil reclamation Soil stabilization Wood
Agroforestry Uses: The tree has proved successful in the reforestation of eroded hill slopes at elevations below 900 metres in the western Himalayas[303 ]. The seed kernels, which are a by-product of the oil extraction from the pericarp and shells, can be used as fertilizer[303 ]. Other Uses The fruit is rich in saponins and is used as a soap substitute[46 , 372 ]. It is squeezed, mixed with water, then used to clean clothes etc[46 , 272 ]. Particularly useful for natural fibres and delicate materials, it is also used for restoring and brightening tarnished silverware[46 ]. The fruit is also used to wash the hair and control head lice; as an emulsifier in insecticides, for polishing jewellery[287 , 303 ]. A surfactant obtained from the fruit pericarp has proved effective in the remediation of contaminated soils[303 ]. The seeds are used to make rosaries[46 ]. The powdered seeds have insecticidal properties[303 ]. The seeds contain 23 % oil of which 92 % is triglycerides; the triglyceride fraction contained 30 % oleopalmito-arachidin glyceride, 13.3 % oleo-diarachidin glyceride and 56.7 % di-olein type glycerides such as dioleopalmitin, dioleo-stearin and dioleo-arachidin[303 ]. The heartwood is yellowish grey, the sapwood yellowish white[598 ]. The wood is moderately hard, compact and close-grained[146 , 303 ]. It is used for making furniture, sawing board, plywood, and boards[598 ]. The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[303 ].
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
A plant of the subtropical to the tropical zone, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,500 metres. It is found in areas where the mean annual rainfall is around 1,750mm[303 ]. Succeeds in a sunny position in any well-drained soil[200 ]. Prefers a deep, fertile, moist soil[598 ], but plants are very tolerant of a wide range of soils, including those that are dry, stony or nutrient deficient[200 ]. A fast-growing tree[598 ]. Flowering Time: Late Spring/Early Summer(early summer, mid summer, late summer). Bloom Color: Cream/Tan(white). Spacing: 9-12 in. (22-30 cm).
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Propagation
Seed - it can remain viable for at least 2 years[303 ]. Greenwood cuttings.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Dodan, Dodani, Reettha, Soapnut, Thali, aretha mota, bhakri, chhopra, chinese soap berry, chinese soapberry, dodan, gundarasi, hathan, indian soapberry, jharlyang, kalalgera, makalawa, mukuroji, ritha, soap nut tree.
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Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Africa, Asia, Australia, China, East Africa, India, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim,
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
Gaertn.
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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Subject : Sapindus mukorossi
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