RNGR.net is sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and Southern Regional Extension Forestry and is a colloborative effort between these two agencies.

U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Extension Forestry Southern Regional Extension Forestry

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

The Forest Service National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) is a leading source of technical information for nurseries and land managers regarding production and planting of trees and other native plants for reforestation, restoration, and conservation.

 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Sapindus (saponaria)

Gary Briggs
Geographic Consulting LLC
Box 430, Christiansted
Estate Calquohoun, St Croix,, Virgin Islands 00821-430
340- 778-0700
340-778-9000 (fax)
http://www.geographicconsulting.com/
Family Scientific Name: Sapindaceae
Family Common Name: Soapberry Family
Scientific Name: Sapindus saponaria L.
Common Name: western soapberry
Species Code: SAPSAP
Ecotype: St. Croix
General Distribution: S. saponaria is common and widely distributed in tropical America and spread further in cultivation. In the West Indies from Bahamas to Cuba to Trinidad. Also from Mexico to Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Peru, Agrentina, Paraguay and Brazil.
On the island of St. Croix, only 4 individuals are known.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Time To Grow: 0
Propagule Collection: Fruits are collected from the ground. Fruits should rattle when shaken indicating that the mesocarp has released the seeds.
Seeds were collected from all four known trees in both locations.
Propagule Processing: Cut the fruit from the seeds using a knife. A cutting test is used: Seeds should be white and firm in cross section. Unfilled seed is discarded.
Seeds are floated in water to remove unviable seeds from the lot prior to planting.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Seeds are planted in 72 cell trays using a commercial potting medium.
Establishment Phase: Germination begins at 14 to 30 days after planting. 48 seedlings out of 144 seeds were potted after 10 to 12 weeks.
Actual germination percent is higher but many are `albino', blotchy or weak seedlings.Trees from the two locations were kept separate, but no significant differences were noted during germination and establshiment.
Length of Establishment Phase: 12 weeks
Active Growth Phase: Germinants were tranplanted from flats into 3 gallon containers 12 weeks after intial germination.
During active growth, stems may need to be staked as they tend to be decumbent or weak at first. Later, stakes can be removed once the stem tissues have lignified.
Other Comments: Blotchy leaf problem seemed to spread and was treated with liquid copper. Results were not conclusive. Seedlings do survive the disease, eventually clearing up when they go from juvenile to adult leaf form.
References: Little, E.J. and Wadsworth, F.H. 1964. Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Agricultural Handbook No. 249 USDA, Forest Service. Washington, DC. 548 pp.

Citation:

Briggs, Gary. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Sapindus saponaria L. plants Geographic Consulting LLC Estate Calquohoun, St Croix,, Virgin Islands. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/02/23). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.