Soapberry or Soap Nut Tree. This plant is native to China and has been used for 2000 years as a natural soap for both clothes and body washing. This could probably be the source of a new industry in the South, as the fruit from this plant are being used more and more for a truly natural soap. For more information, one can go to this blog on the tree: http://www.soapnuts.pro/2009/07/15/soap-nuts-trees/. It is said that a tree needs to be about nine years old before it will begin flowering and fruiting. It does well on a low fertility soil and will reach to about 30'. The leaves are compound, somewhat resembling Pecan leaves. The flower which form the fruit are in terminal panicles and are showy.
Zones 7-9
