Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Rosids: Malvids: Sapindales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (2/10/25):
Sapindus drummondii var. drummondii
FAMILY
Sapindaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
INCLUDED WITHIN
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii
FAMILY
Sapindaceae
INCLUDED WITHIN Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii
INCLUDED WITHIN The genera of Sapindales in the southeastern United States (Brizicky, 1963)
Sapindus drummondii
INCLUDED WITHIN Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 13
Sapindus saponaria ssp. drummondii
COMMON NAME:
Western Soapberry
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
Manual of the Trees of North America (Exclusive of Mexico) (Sargent, 1905) mtna_i_746
)
Richard and Teresa Ware rtw_sapindus_drummondii_3
February
Bark becomes platy or scaly; as these fall they create a colorful patchwork, per Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (Dirr, 1975+).
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Richard and Teresa Ware rtw_s_drummondii_91805_6
September
Subglobose 1/2" translucent yellow-orange drupes remain on tree into Spring, per Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (Dirr, 1975+).
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Richard and Teresa Ware rtw_sapindus_drummondii_1
September
Rachis wingless. Leaflets slightly curved or sickle-shaped not unlike pecan, per Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (Dirr, 1975+).
COMPARE
pinnately compound leaves of trees
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (2/10/25):
Sapindus drummondii var. drummondii
FAMILY
Sapindaceae
INCLUDED WITHIN
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii
FAMILY
Sapindaceae
INCLUDED WITHIN
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii
INCLUDED WITHIN
The genera of Sapindales in the southeastern United States (Brizicky, 1963)
Sapindus drummondii
INCLUDED WITHIN
Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 13
Sapindus saponaria ssp. drummondii
3778
Shrub; Tree
Perennial
Dioecious
Habitat: Dry to mesic upland forests and woodlands, bluffs, glade margins, stream banks, hardwood flatwoods, bottomland forests; often associated with larger rivers, per Weakley's Flora
Native: south & west of the Carolinas & Georgia
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
LEAVES:
Deciduous
Even-pinnately compound: 6-24 leaflets
Alternate
Margins entire
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
Creamy-white
5 petals
8 stamens
Superior ovary
Functionally unisexual
Flowers in a terminal panicle
FRUIT:
Spring/Summer?
Yellowish
Drupe-like soap nut
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- How to Recognize Shrubs (Grimm, 1966) p180
- Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Georgia (Chafin, 2007) p327
- Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide (Lance, 2004) p320
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