Lunaria Annua (Honesty)

Lunaria annua

(Honesty / Money Plant)

A cottage-garden favourite with year-round charm, Lunaria annua, commonly known as Honesty or Money Plant, is grown for both its pretty spring flowers and its distinctive, translucent seed pods. Clusters of delicate purple to lilac flowers appear above fresh green foliage, followed by round, papery seed pods that mature to a beautiful silvery-white. These shimmering pods are particularly attractive in dried flower arrangements and can remain on the plant for months.

Honesty is an easy-going plant that is particularly effective in cottage gardens, mixed borders and informal woodland-style planting. It prefers morning sun or light shade, especially in warmer parts of South Africa, and does best in fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost. Keep it reasonably moist while establishing, particularly during hot, dry weather.

Although Lunaria annua is commonly called the Annual Honesty, it is actually a biennial, usually producing a leafy rosette in its first year before flowering and setting seed in its second. It readily self-seeds, so once established it can return naturally each year, creating a wonderfully relaxed, romantic effect. Allow some of the seed pods to remain on the plant if you would like it to spread naturally.

Flowering time

Spring to early summer

Position

Morning sun to partial shade

Water

Moderate – water regularly while establishing; avoid prolonged dryness

Mature size

60–90 cm high × 30–45 cm wide

Frost tolerance

Good – tolerates light to moderate frost

Soil pH

Slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6–7)

Garden tip

For the best display of its famous silvery seed pods, leave the plant standing after flowering and allow the pods to fully mature. The dried stems can then be cut for arrangements or left in the garden for winter interest.

For sale in South Africa.