Dune Soapberry – 5 Seeds

Dune Soapberry (Deinbollia oblongifolia) is a hardy, evergreen to semi-deciduous shrub or small tree that usually grows 1.5 to 5 meters in height, but can sometimes reach up to 9 m. It is often multi-stemmed and is drought and shade-tolerant with a non-aggressive root system. Suitable for shade, containers, and as a formal or informal screening plant. Attracts beneficial insects to the garden and acts as a host plant for the larvae of several butterfly species. The plant has culinary, medicinal uses and is used as a soap substitute.

It has large, compound leaves with leaflets that are dark green, shiny, and crowded at the ends of branches. New growth can be lighter green. Small, white to cream-colored flowers are produced in large, dense, velvety, pyramid-shaped panicles at the tips of branches. Fleshy, round, berry-like fruit (approx. 10 mm in diameter) that are green and velvety when young, turning pale yellow to yellow-orange when ripe.

Common names: dune soapberry (Eng.); duineseepbessie (Afr.); iqinisamasimu, igolo-lenkawu, iphengulula, umuthi-wezithutha, maqinisa, intisamasimu (Zul.); umasibele, umbangabanga (Xho.); antiyisamasimu (Tho.)

Traditional Uses:

• Soap: The seeds, when mixed with water, create a lather used as a soap substitute.
• Food: The leaves are sometimes eaten as spinach, and the fruit is considered palatable to humans.
• Medicine: A root infusion is traditionally used to treat diarrhea and dysentery, while powdered bark is used to treat headaches.

Growing Dune Soapberry

Indoor Sowing: Spring

Direct Sowing: Spring

• Use a well-drained, sandy mix with fine compost.
• Lightly press seeds into the soil and cover with about 10-15 mm of the medium.
• Water thoroughly once, then keep the soil just slightly moist.
• Warm, humid conditions promote quick and reliable germination.
• Move seedlings to individual pots filled with rich, well-drained potting mix, once they’re strong enough to handle.
• Pinch the tips of young plants to encourage a more bushy growth habit.