Gerald L. Klingaman
Family
Brassicaceae
Botanical Name
Lunaria annua
Plant Common Name
Honesty, Moneyplant
General Description
Money plant, also called honesty, is one of those garden flowers folks know without knowing it. Its enormous round, flat seedpods are popular everlastings when dried and sold at florist's shops and craft stores. They look like stems of shimmering coins. The generic name, Lunaria, refers first to its round, moon-like seedpods but the specific epithet, annua, is misleading because this Eurasian native is actually a biennial.
In the first year, money plant produces a basal rosette of hairy, heart-shaped leaves with coarsely toothed edges but in the second year it blooms in late spring or early summer. Its racemes of attractive flowers are four-petaled and bright magenta pink. Bees, butterflies and other insects pollinate them. After flowering, large, round, green seedheads form which brown as they age. The fruits are technically called siliques and consist of a two parted pod separated by a thin, glassine membrane. When the pods are dry, the outer shells and seeds can be gently rubbed away to reveal the attractive membrane. Money plant is an aggressive reseeder, in fact it is considered a noxious weed in many parts of the world, so its seeds should be responsibly discarded. The plants die after flowering and setting seed.
This garden everlasting is so easy to grow it falls under the "wildflower" category. Full to partial sun and fertile soil with average moisture are preferred. It is best suited for cutflower gardens. Remove its seedheads and hang them upside down for drying. Do not let plants self sow unless you want to be weeding out the seedlings forever.
This plant has become naturalized across the United States where it is considered invasive. To learn more about its invasive nature visit Invasive.org: http://www.invasive.org/species/subject.cfm?sub=14110
Characteristics
-
AHS Heat Zone
8 - 1
-
USDA Hardiness Zone
4 - 8
-
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
-
Plant Type
Biennial
-
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
-
Height
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
-
Width
1'-2' / 0.3m - 0.6m
-
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
-
Native To
Europe, Western Asia
Growing Conditions
-
Soil pH
Neutral
-
Soil Drainage
Average
-
Soil type
Loam
-
Growth Rate
Fast
-
Water Requirements
Average Water
-
Habit
Upright/Erect
-
Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer
Ornamental Features
-
Flower Interest
Showy
-
Flower Color
Hot Pink, Magenta
-
Fruit Color
Tan, Sandy Brown
-
Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Light Green
-
Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Light Green
-
Fragrant Flowers
Yes
-
Fragrant Fruit
No
-
Fragrant Foliage
No
-
Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
-
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Repeat Bloomer
No
-
Showy Fruit
Yes
-
Edible Fruit
No
-
Showy Foliage
No
-
Foliage Texture
Medium
-
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
No
-
Showy Bark
No
