Taxon: Sapindus saponaria L.

Summary

Genus:

Sapindus

Family:

Sapindaceae

Subfamily:

Sapindoideae

Nomen number:

33090

Place of publication:

Sp. pl. 1:367. 1753

Protologue link:

https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358386

Typification:

View in Linnean Typification Project

Verified:

11/07/1985 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

18 (3 active, 1 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Sapindus saponaria L. var. drummondii (Hook. & Arn.) L. D. Benson (8 active accession[s])
Sapindus saponaria L. var. saponaria (0 active accession[s])

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Sapindus divaricatus Cambess.
Sapindus indicus Poir.

Images (3 total. Click on image for more.)

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Adams, C. 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica
Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Kearney, T. H. & R. H. Peebles. 1969. Arizona flora, ed. 2.
Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Liogier, H. A. 1984-. Descriptive flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands.
Little, E. L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees, Agric. Handb. 541
Macbride, J. F. et al., eds. 1936-. Flora of Peru Note: 1936-1971; new ser. 1980-
McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Pittier, H. F. et al. 1945-1947. Catálogo de la flora venezolana.
Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Reitz, R., ed. 1965-. Flora ilustrada catarinense.
Smith, R. J. Botanical beads of the world (on-line resource).
Spichiger, R., ed. 1985-. Flora del Paraguay.
Standley, P. C. & J. A. Steyermark. 1946-1976. Flora of Guatemala.
Standley, P. C. 1920. Trees and shrubs of Mexico. Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 23:1-1721.
Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
Woodson, R. E. & R. W. Schery, eds. 1943-1980. Flora of Panama.
Wunderlin, R. P. et al. 2017. Flora of Florida University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. 4:95.

Common names

Language	Name	seq	Citation
English	soapberry	1	Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
English	soaptree	1	Liogier, H. A. 1984-. Descriptive flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands.
English	southern soapberry	1	Little, E. L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees, Agric. Handb. 541
English	wing-leaf soapberry	1	Little, E. L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees, Agric. Handb. 541
French	bois de panama	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
French	savonnier	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
German	Seifenbaum	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Portuguese	saboeira	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Portuguese (Brazil)	fruta-de-sabão	2	Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)	jequiriguaçú	2	Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)	pau-de-sabão	2	Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)	sabão-de-macaco	2	Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)	sabão-de-soldado	2	Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)	sabonete	2	Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)	saboneteira	2	Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Spanish	jaboncillo	2	Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Swedish	såpbärsträd	2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Baja California Sur		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Chihuahua		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Coahuila de Zaragoza		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Durango		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Nuevo León		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	San Luis Potosí		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Sinaloa		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Sonora		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Tamaulipas		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida		Wunderlin, R. P. et al. 2017. Flora of Florida University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. 4:95.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Georgia		Wunderlin, R. P. et al. 2017. Flora of Florida University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. 4:95.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	South Carolina		Wunderlin, R. P. et al. 2017. Flora of Florida University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. 4:95.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Campeche		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Chiapas		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Colima		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Guanajuato		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Guerrero		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Hidalgo		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Jalisco		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	México		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Michoacán de Ocampo		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Morelos		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Nayarit		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Oaxaca		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Puebla		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Querétaro		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Quintana Roo		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Tabasco		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Yucatán		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Antigua and Barbuda
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Bahamas
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Barbados
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Cuba
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Dominica
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Grenada
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Guadeloupe
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Hispaniola
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Jamaica			Adams, C. 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Martinique
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Montserrat
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	St. Kitts and Nevis
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	St. Vincent and Grenadines
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Belize
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Costa Rica
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	El Salvador
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Guatemala
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Nicaragua
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Panama			Woodson, R. E. & R. W. Schery, eds. 1943-1980. Flora of Panama.
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	Suriname
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	Venezuela
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina		n.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Paraguay			Spichiger, R., ed. 1985-. Flora del Paraguay.
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Bolivia
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Colombia
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Peru
2	Cultivated					also cult.
4	Naturalized					natzd. elsewhere

Native
Northern America

SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Florida, Georgia, South Carolina]
NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas]
SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Campeche, Chiapas, Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, Yucatán]

Southern America

CARIBBEAN: Hispaniola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Martinique, St. Vincent and Grenadines
CENTRAL AMERICA: Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador
NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Suriname, Venezuela
BRAZIL: Brazil
WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA: Bolivia, Colombia, Peru
SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina (n.), Paraguay

Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)

Reference(s)

Adams, C. 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica
Spichiger, R., ed. 1985-. Flora del Paraguay.
Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:884. DOI: 10.1016/j.mb.2016.06.017.
Woodson, R. E. & R. W. Schery, eds. 1943-1980. Flora of Panama.
Wunderlin, R. P. et al. 2017. Flora of Florida University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. 4:95.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Environmental	ornamental		Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
Materials	beads		Smith, R. J. Botanical beads of the world (on-line resource).
Materials	chemicals	saponins used as emulsifier & cleanser	Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Medicines	folklore		McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Vertebrate poisons	mammals	as Sapindus drummondii

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=33090. Accessed 11 May 2026.