Lunaria

( loo - NAY - ree - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus, commonly called Money Plant, Moonwort, Honesty, or Silver Dollar Plant, is native to Europe. Species are known for their coin-shaped seed pods, which are commonly used in flower arrangements. They produce spring and summertime flowers that resemble those of wild mustard. Flowers can be purple or white, and the plant itself reaches 1.5-3 feet tall and around a foot wide when mature and in bloom. Lunaria are hardy and vigorous plants, reseeding freely in the garden. Lunaria needs afternoon shade in the hottest climates to avoid sunburn and little to regular water to perform well. Use Lunaria in mixed beds and borders, pollinator, informal, cottage, or meadow gardens, or as members of cut flower gardens grown for their seed pods. Take care when planting these flowers in the landscape, as some species produce toxic alkaloids that can cause health problems for pets and humans if ingested.

Lunaria species and varietals

This genus Lunaria includes three species and is a member of the plant family Brassicaceae. Plants in this genus are related to those in Erysimum (Wallflower), Lobularia (Sweet Alyssum), and Iberis (Candytuft). Lunaria grows best in USDA hardiness zones 4-8 or Sunset growing zones 2-10 and 14-24 (To find your zone, click here: Zone Map).

Lunaria annua (Lunaria biennis) (Honesty, Annual Honesty, Silver Dollar Plant, Money Plant, Moneywort, Moonwort)
This annual or biennial plants are native to southern Europe, and are cultivated throughout many areas of the temperate world. Plants reach up to 35 inches tall and have large leaves. In spring and summer, they produce racemes of flowers in white, pink or violet. The blooms are followed by eye-catching green to light brown translucent seed pods. This species is considered invasive in many regions of North America.

Lunaria rediviva (Perennial Honesty, Money Plant, Silver Dollar Plant, Moonwort)
These plants have hairy stems and grow in damp woodlands. They are native to Europe and reach over three feet tall when in bloom. Flowers are pale pink and fragrant, blooming in springtime and followed by translucent seed heads. This species is considered invasive across much of North America.

Lunaria telekiana (Annual Honesty, Silver Dollar Plant)
This rare species is poorly known and is native to Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo. It is an endangered species, and produces magenta-pink flowers in spring and summertime. Seed pods are translucent and disc-shaped. Plants reach up to 1-2 feet tall when mature.

Caring for Lunaria

Lunaria is typically sown directly into the landscape, as they are taprooted plants and do not transplant well. Install Lunaria in a space in the garden that receives full sun to partial shade. In warmer climates, make sure they get some afternoon shade when temperatures are at their peak. Most plants will do well with between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day. Soil should be deep (to accommodate their taproot), well-draining, moderately fertile and have a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost and sand before installing flowers. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Water new plants regularly as they establish a strong root system. At maturity, Lunaria appreciates consistently moist soils, but cannot tolerate boggy or fully saturated conditions.

Each year in springtime, apply a 2-inch layer of organic compost around the planting area to improve soil structure, drainage, and nutrient load. This feeding should be sufficient to provide these flowers with enough nutrients to get through their growth and flowering seasons with ease. Prune off spent flowering heads and any seed pods that form, especially if you do not want these plants to freely spread around the garden. The seed pods are valued for their use in flower arranging, and can also provide some wintertime interest. Lunaria are for the most part biennial, meaning that they produce foliage in their first year, flowers and seed pods in their second, and then can be removed and replaced. Lunaria plants can be annual, biennial or perennial. Annual and biennial plants are pulled at the end of the growing season and composted. Perennial plants can survive for over a decade before needing to be replaced. All types of Lunaria will freely re-seed in the garden, providing new plants indefinitely.

Harvesting Lunaria
Lunaria plants are sometimes cultivated for their decorative seed pods for flower arrangements. They are harvested in late summer or early fall when seed pods are dry and translucent. The best time of the day to harvest is in the morning, after dew has dried but before the heat of the day sets in. Using clean, sharp shears or snips, cut stems at ground level. Hang them in bundles in a dark, dry space for between 2 and 3 weeks' time. Seed pods can also be harvested using the same process when they are still green to decorate fresh arrangements. Once seed pods are done fully drying out, gently rub the outer brown husks off of the pods by hand to reveal the shimmery, paper-like membrane with dark seeds tucked inside. When seed pod stems are harvested while green, they will last for 7-10 days in a vase. If dried and stripped, they can last for up to 5 years in dried arrangements.

Propagation

Lunaria, or Money Plant, is most easily propagated via seeds. These plants will self-sow freely, though seedlings are somewhat difficult to transplant as they have a taproot. To propagate Lunaria using seeds, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Lunaria by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Money Plants are pretty easy to find, they're left behind after flowers have faded and look like translucent discs. Once they have dried out, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside, or they can be manually opened. Once seeds have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray on the soil surface and cover them with a light layer of soil. Water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes between 10 and 14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.