Lunaria rediviva, commonly known as perennial honesty, is a herbaceous perennial plant native to woodland habitats, forest clearings, and limestone-rich soils in Europe. It typically grows up to 3 feet tall and wide, with large, heart-shaped, serrated leaves. From late spring to early summer, it bears clusters of fragrant, pale pink to violet flowers, which are followed by distinctive, translucent, oval seed pods that are highly valued in dried flower arrangements. The plant’s flowers are particularly showy and attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Perennial honesty is celebrated for its sweetly scented flowers and decorative seed pods, which have earned it the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. It is often used in shaded garden borders, woodland gardens, and naturalized areas. This plant prefers partial shade but can tolerate full sun in cooler climates, provided the soil remains moist. It thrives in rich, well-drained soils with a preference for alkaline conditions. While generally low maintenance, it may require division every few years to maintain vigor. Perennial honesty is not known for serious pest or disease issues, but it can be susceptible to slug and snail damage. It is also important to note that while it can self-seed, it is not typically invasive and can be easily managed in a garden setting.CC BY-SA 4.0