lunaria

Lunaria is a small genus of flowering plants in the Brassicaceae family, commonly known as honesty or money plant. The best-known species is Lunaria annua, often called annual honesty, along with Lunaria rediviva, the perennial honesty. The genus is native to southeastern Europe and western Asia and is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

These plants are herbaceous and typically form a rosette the first year and produce tall flowering stems in the following season. They have large, oval leaves and bear clusters of four-petaled flowers, usually purple to pink, in spring. After flowering, they develop flattened seed pods. Each pod contains several seeds and, as the outer layers peel away, a translucent silvery inner membrane remains, creating the familiar “silver dollar” appearance. This distinctive pod feature has given the plant the common names honesty and money plant.

Cultivation and uses: Lunaria species are grown primarily for their ornamental value. They prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, and are relatively adaptable to a range of conditions. They can be sown in late summer or early spring and often self-seed in suitable climates. The dried seed pods are popular in dried flower arrangements and crafts.

Ecology and status: Lunaria attracts bees and other pollinators. It can self-seed readily and may naturalize beyond cultivated areas, though it is not generally considered highly invasive in most regions.

Etymology: the genus name Lunaria comes from Latin luna, meaning moon, in reference to the moon-like seed pods; the common names honesty and money plant refer to the plant’s showy pods.