Lunaria annua, moneyplant
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Perennials

Lunaria annua

moneyplant

BrassicaceaeEurope

At a Glance

TypeBiennial
HabitUpright
FoliageDeciduous
Height24–36 inches (60–90 cm)
Width12–18 inches (30–45 cm)

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Attracts Butterflies
Deer Resistant
Drought Tolerant
Fragrant (light)
Maintenancevery low

Overview

Lunaria annua, commonly called honesty, money plant, or silver dollar plant, is a biennial in the family Brassicaceae, native to southeastern Europe — the Balkans, Turkey, and adjacent regions — but widely naturalized across temperate Europe, North America, and beyond. In its first year it forms a rosette of large, coarsely toothed, hairy leaves; in its second year it produces erect stems 24–36 inches (60–90 cm) tall bearing terminal racemes of fragrant, four-petaled flowers in rich purple, lilac-pink, or white in spring, followed by the remarkable flattened, disk-shaped, translucent seed pods — the "silver dollars" — that persist on the plant long after the outer pod walls shed, revealing a pearly, papery septum prized for dried flower arrangements for centuries. The species self-sows reliably in Pacific Northwest gardens, effectively maintaining a perpetual colony: first-year rosettes and second-year flowering stems coexist side-by-side each season. Despite the specific epithet annua ("annual"), Lunaria annua is a true biennial — the name predates modern botanical nomenclature. The fragrant spring flowers are an important early nectar source for bumblebees and other pollinators.

Native Range

Native to southeastern Europe — the Balkans, including Bulgaria, Greece, and the former Yugoslavia — and Turkey, where the species grows in woodland margins, hedgerows, and disturbed ground in moist, moderately fertile soils in partial shade. Widely naturalized across western and northern Europe, North America (including the Pacific Northwest), and other temperate regions.

Suggested Uses

Honesty is a classic cottage garden biennial for Pacific Northwest gardens, providing richly fragrant spring flowers in purple, pink, or white, followed by one of the most distinctive seed pod displays of any garden plant — the translucent silver dollar membranes persist on stems through autumn and winter. Naturalize in a semi-wild area, cottage garden border, or shaded woodland edge where self-seeding is welcome. Harvest dried stems in late summer for long-lasting indoor arrangements — the silver pods are among the most distinctive and enduring of all dried flowers. The spring flowers are valuable for early pollinators. White-flowered and variegated-leaf forms are available as specialty selections.

How to Identify

Honesty is identified in its second year by erect, branched stems 24–36 inches (60–90 cm) tall bearing terminal racemes of fragrant four-petaled flowers in purple, lilac-pink, or white in spring, with the characteristic cross-shaped petal arrangement of the Brassicaceae. The plant is most distinctive in late summer and autumn when the flat, oval, disk-shaped seed pods 1.5–2.5 inches (4–6 cm) across remain on the dried stems, the outer walls having fallen to reveal the translucent, pearl-white, papery inner septum. First-year plants are identified by their rosette of large, coarsely toothed, roughly hairy, heart-shaped leaves on long petioles.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

purple
pink
white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks
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Spring
Honesty blooms in mid-spring in Pacific Northwest gardens, typically April through May, peaking in late April. The terminal and axillary racemes of fragrant four-petaled flowers in purple, lilac-pink, or white are produced prolifically over three to four weeks. The flowers have a sweet fragrance attractive to early-season pollinators. After bloom, the flat green seed pods develop and gradually ripen through summer; by late summer and autumn the outer pod walls shed to reveal the characteristic translucent silver membranes that persist well into winter on the dried stems.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Purple, lilac-pink, or white; four-petaled, cross-shaped, fragrant; in terminal and axillary racemes

Foliage Description

Large, coarsely toothed, roughly hairy, heart-shaped, mid-green; lower leaves on long petioles

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Partial Shade
Requires 2-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamclaysand
Drainage
well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Sow Lunaria annua seed directly in the garden in early summer or autumn for flowering the following spring; it does not transplant well due to a taproot. Self-sown seedlings appear reliably and require no intervention once a colony is established. The plant thrives in partial shade to full sun in any reasonably fertile, moist, well-drained soil — it is one of the least demanding of all biennials. In Pacific Northwest gardens it naturalizes readily and typically maintains a self-perpetuating colony by self-seeding. Allow seed pods to ripen and shatter naturally, or harvest dried stems with pods attached in late summer for arrangements. For the silver dollar effect, harvest stems in late summer and gently rub off the outer pod walls to reveal the translucent septum.

Pruning

Allow second-year plants to complete their cycle: flower, set seed, and dry on the stem before removing. Harvest dried stems for arrangements in late summer by cutting at the base. Leave some stems in the garden to release seed for the next year's colony. Remove first-year rosette leaves as needed to prevent excessive crowding. No other pruning is required for a self-sustaining colony.

Pruning Schedule

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Maintenance Level

very low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic

Planting Guide

Planting Methods & Timing

Planting Method

direct sow

Direct Sow Timing

Direct sow in early summer or autumn for flowering the following spring; does not transplant well