Note: We can no longer source or supply soapnut seeds or soapnut plants.

•    Evergreen
•    Fast growing South American tree
•    Produces berries in 3 years
•    The berries contain saponins which produce a soapy lather in water
•    Produces small white flowers prior to producing brown fruits
•    Grows  to a height of 9 metres, a good shade tree in a low maintenance garden
•    Grows well in coastal areas, are tolerant of draught, wind, sandy soils, loamy, clay, moist, acidic and alkaline conditions
•    Likes a position in full sun/partial sun

The Soapberry tree is an evergreen that reaches the height of 9 metres. It grows well in coastal areas and can tolerate wind, drought and infertile soils.  

This tree is known as the Western Soapberry which grows in acidic, alkaline, drought tolerant, loamy, moist, sandy, well drained, and clay soils.  

Butterflies and bees love this tree which is said to resemble a large Mimosa tree. It grows well in full sun, partial shade and produces a showy cluster of small white flowers at the tip of a current year’s shoot. The fruit is an orange/brown colour and looks leathery.  The berries will stay on the tree for months and look attractive.
To use the ripe berry for washing, sun dry it, then crack the shell to remove the seed.  Use the berry shell for washing and plant the seed.

Germination

Plant as soon as you receive your seeds. Do not store.

1. You have to weaken the seeds coat. Use a nail file or sand paper to scarify. If you find it too tough, you can hammer the seed. Please be careful and do not to crush the seed. We just want to weaken the seed coat.

2. Soak the seed overnight in warm/hot water. Do not use boiled water, let it sit for 5 minutes. Then fill up a vacuum-insulated thermos with the seeds and water, and let it soak for 24 hours. The thermos will keep the water warm throughout that period. The soaking process is particularly important, as the water is what activates the germination.

3. Plant the seeds (best time of the year spring to early summer). Use good potting soil (not dirt - good quality potting/germinating soil). Plan the seeds at a depth of 2.5cm. Choose a pot that is deep, as SoapNut trees send down vertical tap roots. Put the pot(s) in a place where it will not be in direct sun, and where it can catch some rainfall. Water the pots if the soil starts to dry, but don't water if it is still moist (that can promote fungal growth.) Also, avoid fertilizing the soil before germination occurs - high levels of nitrogen in the soil can actually inhibit germination in general.

4. Wait and watch the seeds growing. The germination process can take 1 to 3 months (in summer months). In cooler months a little more patience will be needed, you will need to ensure that the seed mix is warm and provide sufficient light.

5. Look after your trees.

In time the seed will swell in size, almost to double its original size and forms a white powder coating around the seed coating. Don't be concerned when you see this, it is a good sign that the seedling is about to emerge.

As soon as the seedling emerges, you will need to re-pot into a large container or plant bag to protect the very long main root. This is a sub-tropical/tropical plant that loves rain, so keep in a sunny spot and water regularly.

• Environment friendly. Soap Nuts are 100% natural, they do not pollute our environment. Furthermore, Soap Nuts are considered renewable primary products. The SoapNuts trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.
• Sustainable. SoapNuts are a renewable resource and easily grown.
• 100% natural ingredients. SoapNuts are a fruit and they grow on trees - no harmful ingredients.
• Affordable. They replace multiple cleaners and last longer. Click here for a cost comparison.
• Save water and energy. Skip the rinse cycle - there is no need of rinsing your clothes since you have used a 100% natural detergent - no chemicals are left in your clothes to rinse off.
• Perfect for allergic people. People with sensitive skin and people who suffer from neurodermatitis or eczema.
• Simple to use. Just add 6-8 nuts in a cotton bag and wash as normal.
• Effective and gentle. SoapNuts clean dirty laundry very effectively and at the same time preserve the colour of your laundry better than chemical detergents. In Nepal, people wash even the finest silks using SoapNuts.
• No Fabric Softener needed. SoapNuts naturally soften your fabrics.
• 100% biodegradable. Simply add the used SoapNuts directly to your compost heap and they are safe to use on your septic tank.
• Reusable. Use the same nuts up to 4 times or even more.
• Recyclable packaging. After you have finished your SoapNuts reuse the cotton bag for other purposes and recycle the box.
• Not tested on animals. No such tests have been made.
• FREE of SLS/Sulfate, Parabens, Perfume, Bleach, Chlorine, Phthalates, Phosphates, Formaldeyde and Petro-chemical

Toxic chemicals in your regular laundry detergents

Your everyday laundry detergents contain a combination of many toxic chemicals, the residues of which are left behind on your clothes after washing. This can be potentially dangerous as these chemicals are absorbed by your skin into your blood stream and also evaporate into the air, which you and your children breathe. Both, the manufacturing process of the chemical detergents and their use, have a long term effect on the environment as well.

Most of your common laundry detergents contain phosphates, ammonia, naphthalene, phenol, optical brighteners, artificial fragrances, EDTA etc. These chemicals can cause rashes, itches, allergies, sinus problems and have long term toxic effects on the environment.

So why not do yourself and the environment a favour and BUY SOAP NUTS TODAY?

SoapNuts NZ's Philosophy

It's what makes us different

• Our products are human tested, never tested on animals, contain no hidden nasties and we respect the environment and the people who harvest and supply our product
• We are growing our own SoapNut trees so that we can eliminate importing in the future, decreasing our carbon footprint and we encourage others to grow their own trees too
• Our product is harvested from wild SoapNut trees - this means that any villager can collect an income from the berries and it saves the trees from being chopped down for firewood
• Our packaging is minimal, it's no frills, no unnecessary inks and dyes
• SoapNuts NZ is all about SoapNuts and products to use with SoapNuts, it's all we do. Yes you could say we are full-time nutters
• We offer the largest range of SoapNut products and we're always adding new products to our range, it keeps it fresh and exciting
• Best value, fabulous friendly service & light speed delivery (well nearly) is a promise
• We wholesale to stores throughout New Zealand so that you can choose to support local retailers or purchase direct from us online
• We continually research about our product so we can share our expertise with you

Note: We can no longer source or supply soapnut seeds or soapnut plants.

• Deciduous
• Belongs to the Sapindacae family
• Produces Soapnut berries in 9-10 years
• The berries produced are the most widely used for washing, the seeds do not produce sapion
• Small flowers turn to yellow leathery skinned fruit and turn black when ripe
• May grow to 12-20 meters high in 70 years, will be smaller in cooler climates
• It is a tropical/subtropical tree & enjoys warm climates with annual rainfalls of 150-200cm
• Grows in deep clayey loam soil
• Position in a sunny spot

The SoapNuts tree is deciduous and can grow between 12-20 metres with a trunk girth of 3-5m in 70 years and prefers tropical and subtropical conditions. In cooler conditions the tree grows smaller.

It is a handsome tree found throughout most of India, and also found in China, Hawaii and Florida. The leaves measure 40cm long. The tree resembles large Mimosa trees to some extent.

It takes 9-10 years for the trees to produce the SoapNuts berries. It flowers during summer and the berries are collected during winter months. When the tree fruits, collect ripe berries, sun dry, and then crack and deseed before use. Use the soapnut berry shell to wash, and replant seeds.

Germination

Plant as soon as you receive your seeds. Do not store.

1. You have to weaken the seeds coat. Use a nail file or sand paper to scarify. If you find it too tough, you can hammer the seed. Please be careful and do not to crush the seed. We just want to weaken the seed coat.

2. Soak the seed overnight in warm/hot water. Do not use boiled water, let it sit for 5 minutes. Then fill up a vacuum-insulated thermos with the seeds and water, and let it soak for 24 hours. The thermos will keep the water warm throughout that period. The soaking process is particularly important, as the water is what activates the germination.

3. Plant the seeds (best time of the year spring to early summer). Use good potting soil (not dirt - good quality potting/germinating soil). Plan the seeds at a depth of 2.5cm. Choose a pot that is deep, as SoapNut trees send down vertical tap roots. Put the pot(s) in a place where it will not be in direct sun, and where it can catch some rainfall. Water  the pots if the soil starts to dry, but don't water if it is still moist (that can promote fungal growth.) Also, avoid fertilizing the soil before germination occurs - high levels of nitrogen in the soil can actually inhibit germination in general.

4. Wait and watch the seeds growing. The germination process can take 1 to 3 months (in summer months) . In cooler months a little more patience will be needed, you will need to ensure that the seed mix is warm and provide sufficient light.

5. Look after your trees.

In time the seed will swell in size, almost to double its original size and forms a white powder coating around the seed coating. Don't be concerned when you see this, it is a good sign that the seedling is about to emerge.

As soon as the seedling emerges, you will need to re-pot into a large container or plant bag to protect the very long main root. This is a sub-tropical/tropical plant that loves rain, so keep in a sunny spot and water regularly.