Soapberry, Western
Sapindus drummondii
Sapindaceae - Soapberry

Description

Leaves: Alternate; pinnately compound; 10" to 15" long; deciduous; 8 to 18 lanceolate leaflets, 1-1/2" to 3-1/2" long and 1/2" to 1" wide; entire margins; narrow at base; glossy medium green, glabrous above, pubescent below; leaflets slightly sickle-shaped. Yellow-gold fall color.

Twigs/buds: Twigs stout; gray, covered with short hairs; inner bark white. Buds round; gray and covered with fine hairs.

Flowers/fruit: Polygamo-dioecious. Flowers yellow-white, borne in 6" to 10" long pyramidal panicles; appear in May to June. Fruit a poisonous translucent yellow or orange drupe; round; 1/2" diameter; 1 to 3 round black seeds in each fruit.

Bark: Gray-brown to reddish brown; slightly furrowed; develops scaly or platy sections.

Wood: Close-grained and strong.

General: Native to the south-central and southwestern United States. Adapted to dry soils and tolerant of urban settings. Named for the soapy lather produced by fruits when crushed in water. Also called Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii.

Landscape Use: A good choice for areas with dry soil. Fallen fruit can make a mess; not recommended for a street tree for this reason. Prefers full sun exposure. Single-stemmed with a broad oval or round canopy. Mostly a tree for southwestern Utah. Zones 6-9.

Characteristics

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