Soap Bark Tree
Quillaja saponeria is a Chilean shrub or small tree named after the high content of saponins in its bark. These have traditionally been used as a soap substitute and now as a component of fire extinguisher foam.
Q. Saponaria are not outstandingly beautiful trees or shrubs but they are certainly a collectors item and the creamy white slowers are not unattractive. Their 5 lobed fruits which are fused at the base are also interesting and ornamental in that they resemble the star anise fruit of Illicium.
With us this plant grows more as a multi-stemmed shrub with distinctive oval, toothed, thick leathery, and shiny green leaves. Once seen easily recognised! The flowers appear in April but are sparse on young plants. The white flowers have a purple centre and are unisexual.
Q. Saponaria was originally thought to be tender but there are large trees growing in Dundee and Essex so this may well not be true.
