Yes, it spreads... I just pulled it and it didn't spread to unwatered ground for me... I have found others to be worse spreaders in MY zone.

As long as you have it in an area where it won't be ignored you should be OK. It spreads underground runners close to the surface next to the mother plant. Make sure you dead head so it doesn't go to seed. I didn't follow these instructions and have been pulling it out of an area every year. As Heathen1 stated there are much worse invasive plants than Saponaria officinalis.

The plant is not invasive in my garden. However, I regret letting soapwort flower and produce seed heads. These seeds are determined to grow everywhere and be very invasive. My suggestion is to deadhead all flowers.

chervil2

Okay! Thank you so much! I do have a spot that might be a good location for it. I have a flower bed that's up against the back wall of my house about 6 ft wide and then there is the concrete sidewalk. Between deadheading and the concrete barrier perhaps I'll be able to keep it in bounds. Thanks again everyone:)

Michelle

I've had mine for 3 years in a mixed border and it has behaved just fine. This soil in this area is not over fertile and kept on the drier/leaner side

Vera

Don't do it. This plant is highly invasive and very difficult to get rid of. I bought a house recently but it was in the late fall. The owners and agents lied when I asked about invasive plants. I'm now trying to deal with the mess. It's going to take years to eradicate.

I had it in my garden and yes it did spread but I found it pretty easy to pull out. I think there are much worse plants than soapwort.