Western Soapberry – Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii
This tree is very drought resistant & has showy white clusters of flowers in spring. In the fall, the leaves turn brilliant colors & its amber fruits remain on the tree long after the leaves have fallen. Soapberry gets its name because the berries were used by in the past as a cleaning agent. If you place the mashed berries in a jar with water & shake it, you will see how the name soapberry came to be. The tree grows to about 30 feet & can be an excellent landscaping choice, especially for small areas.