Lunaria annua ( Honesty Flower ) is a biennial flowering plant that is native to the Balkans and western Asia. The Honesty Flower or Silver Dollar as many people call it is a wonderful addition to the garden. The most fascinating thing about these plants is definitely it’s round, flat seed pods that transform into translucent silvery discs. They certainly seem to be a favourite in the garden for children.
Suitable for Cold, Temperate and Sub-Tropical climates.
Also commonly known as the Silver Dollar, Moneywort, Coins of Judas, Penny Flower and Money Plant.
Due to it’s ease of growing it was a popular choice to use as a classroom seed growing experiment with young children in England back in the 1950-1960’s.
Growth
Lunaria annua is a cold hardy flowering plant that reaches height of up to 60 cm (2 feet) and a narrow width of about 30 cm (1 foot). Honesty flower is not fussy about climate, soil types or pH levels so will grow almost anywhere but do prefer a full sun or part sun location and do not like overly wet soil. Unlike most flowers they can tolerate temperatures as low as -15°C / 5°F which is pretty common during winter in their native habitat.
The plant spends the first growing season establishing itself and rarely flowers. During the second season the leaves return and the flowering and seed pod routine begins. Leaves are hairy, the lowest ones long-stalked while the upper ones are stalkless. During Spring and Summer the plant bears terminal racemes of white or violet flowers. This is followed by translucent discs of a greenish brown colour called silicles. When the silicles become ripe and dry out, the seeds fall off a central membrane and lie awaiting the warmer temperatures to return.
Left in a place of their own, the Honesty flower will continue to self seed for many years. In warmer climates it may require a part shade location so that they are not exposed to overly hot summers.
FAMILY:
Brassicaceae
CLIMATE:
Cold to Warm Temperate.
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
-10°C to 25°C / 14 to 77°F
SOIL TYPE:
Well draining, moist nutritious soil.
LOCATION:
Full Sun – Part Shade.
HEIGHT:
Up to 90 cm (3 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 30 cm (1 feet)
pH:
6.5-7.5
GROWTH TYPE:
Biennial
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Low.
POLLINATION:
Pollinated by Bees and Flies
MATURITY:
15-21 months
GERMINATION RATES:
65-85%
GERMINATION TIME:
2-3 weeks
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 50
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
No.
WEED POTENTIAL:
Yes.
EDIBLE:
No.
SEED STORAGE & VIABILITY:
Cold Storage at 4°C (Fridge) up to 2 years.
FACTS ABOUT LUNARIA ANNUA (Honesty Flower)
The Latin name Lunaria means moon-shaped and refers to the shape of the silicles. Honesty as a common name arose during the 16th century and is said to be in reference to the translucent membranes.
In the United States, the plant is more often called the Silver Dollar, Chinese Money or Chinese Coins because of the seed pods. The French call it Pope’s Money while in Denmark and the Netherlands their common name translates into Coins of Judas.
