Annual Honesty

(Lunaria annua)

Annual Honesty (Lunaria annua)

Ericoides

Public domain

Image By: Ericoides

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Ericoides | License Type: Public domain | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/public-domain/ | Uploader: Ericoides | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Lunaria_annua_detail.jpg | Notes: {{Information |Description={{en|1=Fluffy "cotton" and seeds from an eastern cottonwood tree (P. deltoides subsp. deltoides)}} |Source=Own work by uploader |Author=[[User:EnLorax|EnLorax]] [http://edwardjohnson.com/ G. Edward Johnson] |Date=2009-05-21 |Per |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Lunaria annua, commonly known as Annual Honesty, is an annual or biennial herb native to Europe, but has naturalized in various parts of Europe and North America. It typically grows to 90 cm (35 in) tall by 30 cm (12 in) broad. The plant has large, coarse, pointed oval leaves with marked serrations. From late spring to early summer, it produces terminal racemes of fragrant white or violet flowers, which are quite showy. Following the flowering period, distinctive, translucent, disc-shaped silicles, often mistaken for seedpods, appear. These silicles give the plant its common name and are valued for their ornamental quality, especially in dried flower arrangements.

Annual Honesty is appreciated for its ease of cultivation and its ability to self-seed and naturalize in suitable conditions. It is often used in informal or cottage garden settings, as well as in shaded woodland gardens. The plant is also popular for its unique silicles, which add interest to the garden even after the flowering season. It thrives in a range of light conditions, from full sun to part shade, and prefers soils with good drainage, although it is tolerant of various soil types. Gardeners should be aware that Lunaria annua can be invasive outside its native range, so it is important to manage its spread to prevent unwanted naturalization.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Herb
Height: 2-3 feet
Width: 1-2 feet
Growth Rate: Rapid
Flower Color: Pink, Purple, White
Flowering Season: Spring
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Border Plant, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fragrant, Low Maintenance, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers

Natural Habitat

native to Europe, but has naturalized in various parts of Europe and North America

Other Names

Common Names: Moneyplant, Honesty, Money Plant, Penny Flower, Satin Flower, Silver-Dollar, Judaspenge, Judassilberling, Mondviole, Einjähriges Silberblatt

Scientific Names: , Lunaria annua, Lunaria biennis, Lunaria annua f. annua, Lunaria annua f. elliptica, Lunaria corcyrea, Crucifera lunaria, Lunaria annua f. orbiculata, Lunaria annua var. oppositifolia, Lunaria biennis var. albiflora

GBIF Accepted Name: Lunaria annua L.