Species Detail Woody, Cacti, Succulent

Granite Mtn - Tr 308
Sue Smith

Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants

Sapindus saponaria - western soapberry

Other Common Names: tropical soapberry, wingleaf soapberry, soapberry, wild China tree

Plant Form:Tree

Family: Sapindaceae


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Plant - summer Granite Mtn - Tr 308 Sue Smith	Leaves Granite Mtn - Tr 308 Sue Smith	Flowers Granite Mtn - Tr 308 Sue Smith	Immature fruit Granite Mtn - Tr 308 Sue Smith	Fruit Granite Mtn - Tr 308 Sue Smith	Bark Granite Mtn - Tr 308 Sue Smith
Plant Description Origin: Native General Description: Deciduous. A large shrub or tree to 50 feet with furrowed grayish-brown bark, often growing in thickets. Leaves are pinnate with numerous leaflets and turn golden yellow in fall. Identification notes: Shrub, small tree; furrowed grayish-brown bark. Leaves alternate, often even-pinnately compound, 9 to 17 leaflets. Flowers in large, branched terminal clusters. Sepals 5, hairy on margins, petals 5 with 2 narrow bracts. Fruit yellow, orange, berry-like. Height: 50 feet Width: 30 feet Habitat Habitat Description: Found in canyons and along riparian areas within desert grasslands and oak woodlands. Plant Communities: Riparian Elevation: 2500 - 5000 feet Flowers Color: Yellowish-white Shape: Inconspicuous in elongated clusters Tubular: N Flowering Period: May - Aug Description: Flowers have 5 round-tipped petals to 1/4 inch wide in large branched 10 inch long terminal clusters. Sepals are often hairy on margins. Leaves Leaf Color: Green to yellowish-green Type: Compound Shape: Narrow Margin: Smooth Attachment: Alternate Hairs: Bottom of leaves Description: Pinnately compound leaves with 9 to 17 lance-shaped leaflets that have unequal halves. Leaflets are up to 4 inches long while the leaves are up to 12 inches long. Leaves are smooth above but hairy beneath; edges smooth. Fruit Color: Yellow to orange Type: Berry-like Description: Fruit is round and smooth, 1/2 inch in diameter with a yellow to orange translucent flesh; usually containing only 1 very hard seed inside. Bark/Branches Bark Color: Gray to grayish-brown Bark Texture (Mature): Rough Bark and Branch Description: Buds and young twigs are densely hairy. Mature bark is rough, furrowed and fissured, gray to grayish-brown. Spines, thorns or prickles: N


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetail.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer