Saponaria lempergii MaFrei

The 'Max Frei' Soapwort is a vigorous hybrid, very spreading, with small ovate leaves. It is covered with tender pink flowers all summer. It is an ideal plant for lining a pathway, a rockery, or even for use in a pot. It requires a moist to dry, well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade.

The 'Max Frei' soapwort is the result of a cross between two native species: the common soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), an upright plant found in cool places and along riverbanks, from which a foaming substance was once extracted, hence the name 'soapwort'; and the 'Montpellier' soapwort, a creeping plant from the southern half of the country, adapted to rocky limestone slopes. These plants belong to the Caryophyllaceae family, which includes many ornamental plants such as carnations, catchflies, chickweeds, and quaking grasses. Their hybrid exhibits intermediate characteristics: it has a spreading habit, but slightly taller than S. ocymoides: expect a height of about 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12in) with a diameter of 50 cm (20in). Its semi-evergreen leaves are slender like the first plant, and a tender green colour, but quite small like the second. Finally, the tender pink flowers, about 2 cm (1in) in diameter (smaller than the common soapwort, but larger than the Montpellier soapwort) bloom in abundance between May and September, on slender branched stems. The petals are slightly notched at their tips, and the calyx is hairy and slightly sticky.

The 'Max Frei' hybrid, due to its parentage, has cultivation requirements that are halfway between those of its parents: very hardy and adaptable, it inherited from the Montpellier soapwort a good resistance to temporary droughts, but also thrives in cool, well-drained soils, not too acidic, and in climates with not too scorching heat. Partial shade or full sun suit this plant well. Ensure the shade is not too dense in order not to reduce flowering.

This plant's compactness, ground-covering power, and very long flowering period will make this soapwort precious for your terrace, whether in a pot or in a sufficiently deep container, as well as for dressing up your rockeries, the edge of your flowerbeds, and garden pathways. You can associate this plant with perennials such as Sedum spectabile 'Stardust', wall bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana), or the Yo Yo chickweed (Cerastium tomentosum 'Yo Yo', a vigorous groundcover). A grass like Briza media, with its charming floating spikes, can add height and lightness to this ensemble.