Wavy-leaf Soap Plant
Chlorogalum pomeridianum
Last reviewed: September 2026
Chlorogalum pomeridianum is a bulb-forming forb of California and Oregon grasslands and oak woodlands, blooming April through July with white star-shaped flowers that open in late afternoon and close by morning.
Toxicity unknown
Wavy-leaf Soap Plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–60" H × 12"–36" W
Bloom
Apr, May, Jun, Jul
Native to
CA, OR
Pollinators
bees, butterflies, moths
Before you buy
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Amole is a perennial native forb with wavy basal leaves and tall flowering stalks that bloom from spring to summer. The white star-shaped flowers open in the evening, giving it the common name 'soap plant' due to its bulb's traditional use as soap. It goes dormant in summer after flowering.
Growing Wavy-leaf Soap Plant
Grow Wavy-leaf Soap Plant in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 60 inches tall and spread 12 to 36 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Wavy-leaf Soap Plant is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 2 out of 5.
Works well in: mid zone, backyard only.
- Leaves die back and can look unkempt during dormancy
- Tall flower stalks may appear too wild for formal landscapes
- Best integrated within designed native garden beds rather than as standalone specimens
Wildlife value
The evening-blooming flowers attract various nocturnal pollinators including moths, as well as bees and butterflies during daylight hours. The plant provides important food sources for native pollinators.
Common questions
- When does wavy-leaf soap plant bloom?
- Wavy-leaf soap plant typically flowers from April through July. Individual blossoms open in the late afternoon or evening and wilt by the next morning, a habit reflected in the species name pomeridianum.
- What pollinators visit Chlorogalum pomeridianum?
- Bees, butterflies, and moths visit the flowers. Because the blooms open in late afternoon and evening, night-flying moths are especially important visitors.
- What growing conditions suit this plant best?
- It does best in full sun to light shade with low water, matching the dry, warm summers common where it grows in grassland and open woodland settings. The bulb goes dormant after flowering and foliage dies back for the summer.
- Is Wavy-leaf Soap Plant HOA-friendly?
- Wavy-leaf Soap Plant is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Wavy-leaf Soap Plant? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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