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Lunaria
Lunaria annua
Also known as Honesty, Annual honesty, Silver Dollar, Moneywort, Moonwort, Penny Flower, Money Plant
In stock
Description
Whenever I have lunaria seed pods displayed in a vase or a wreath, I’ve often been asked, “Is that real?” Lunaria seed pods are so luminescent and paper-like that it looks like a work of art, but I assure you, you can grow them in your garden!
What’s especially wonderful about lunaria is that the seed pods are harvested dried, so they last for years. Hold up a dried seed pod to the light and you can see the flat, brown seeds inside each pod. Gently rub the pods between your fingers to remove the outer casing and unveil the silvery inner lining. It’s magic every time! I love that this fun tactile experience accomplishes two things at once: collect seeds for next season’s planting and prepare the stems for arrangements.
The green, unripened seed pods are just as delightful and also used in fresh arrangements. The dried, unopened cases are also eyecatching too. Some have a gorgeous purple tinge to them and fade from purple to ivory to green as it ripens up the stem.
All and all, lunaria is a delightful plant to grow and well worth the wait for those one-of-a-kind seed pods.
Details
Lifecycle: Biennial
Hardiness zones: 7B – 10 (USDA)
Habitats: River banks, moist soils in full sun or light shade
Plant size: 2 – 3 feet tall by 2 feet wide
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: All types
Water: Keep moist
Seeds per packet: 30+ seeds
Seed Starting
Direct sow in spring or fall. Do not cover seeds as light is needed for germination. Press firmly into the soil to keep them in place. Thin seedlings to 1 – 2 ft apart.
Cultivation
Lunaria is a biennial and goes to flower in the second year. It is also in the brassica family with similar growing habit and requirements such as moist soil during hot summer months and light mulching around the base of the plant. Here in Oregon, I often find lunaria growing wild by the side of the river, indicating their affinity for water and light shade. Once established, they will self seed and come up on their own with little effort. Keep thinning the seedlings, spacing them well apart and they will reward you with several 3 foot tall branches of ornamental seed pods. In cultivated garden beds, they can be especially robust and productive.
Harvest
In the early summer of the second season, lunaria will send up tall stalks of small purple flowers that quickly become round green seed pods. The seed pods can be harvested green for fresh arrangements or you can wait until they are fully dry in late summer/fall. Cut or pull the whole plant and spread them out on a tarp to dry further. Rub the seed pod between your fingers to open the husks and reveal the silvery paper-like inner lining. Once dried, the seed pods will last for years. If you have a large quantity of lunaria to process, I recommend holding bunches in your hand and beat them on a tarp to get all the casings to come off. This will result in some loss of pods, but is much faster than opening each one individually.
Propagation
Lunaria is best propagated by seed. Coincidentally, the process of rubbing the husks to open the seed pods, as described above, will also drop the seeds onto the tarp. Save the flat, dark brown seeds to direct sow or broadcast in a prepped area.
Seed Saving
Wait until the plant has gone to seed in its second year and seed pods are full ripe and dried on the stalk. They’re ready when the seed case feels papery and brittle to the touch and the seed are dark brown. Gather bunches of dried seed stalks in your hand and thresh by beating them onto a tarp to release the seeds. Pour tarp into a bucket and use a screen to separate the seeds from the papery casings.
Additional information
Weight | 0.007 lbs |
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Dimensions | 4.5 × 3.25 × .05 in |
RACHAEL C WITT –
I received these seeds in beautiful condition and had a high germination rate. We planted out the mature plants last fall and I can’t wait for the blooms this year!