Honesty 'Mixed' Seeds (Lunaria annua)
Honesty (also known as the Money Plant or Moonwort) is a plant that gives twice. In late spring, it produces tall, branching sprays of vibrant flowers in shades of rich purple, magenta, lilac, and pure white. They bridge the gap perfectly between spring bulbs and summer perennials.
But the real magic happens in autumn. The flowers turn into flat, round, paper-thin seed pods. When dried and peeled, they reveal a shimmering, translucent, pearlescent disc that looks like a silver moon or a coin. These "Silver Dollars" are the crown jewel of winter dried flower arrangements, lasting for years without fading.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Honesty is a classic Biennial.
It operates on a two-year cycle.
Year 1: You sow the seeds in summer. The plant grows a low rosette of heart-shaped leaves.
Year 2: It shoots up tall stems, flowers in spring, sets seed pods in summer, and then dies.
The Secret Trick: The seed pods start off green and brown. To get the silver "coin," wait until the stems are dry and brittle (late summer). Gently rub the pod between your thumb and finger. The two outer skins will flake off (along with the black seeds), leaving the stunning, shiny silver membrane behind!
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
Honesty is tough, reliable, and one of the easiest biennials to grow.
Germination:
Sow directly outdoors from May to July. Scatter the large, flat seeds onto raked soil and cover lightly (5mm deep). They germinate easily in 14-21 days. You can also sow in trays and transplant them in autumn, but they have long taproots so move them when small.
Where to Sow:
They are fantastic for Partial Shade. They evolved as woodland edge plants, so they thrive under trees or near fences where other sun-lovers might struggle. They tolerate most soils, including heavy clay.
Care While Growing:
Once established, they need almost no care. Leave the seed heads on the plant until they turn papery and brown before cutting them for indoor display.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Lunaria annua |
| Common Name | Honesty / Money Plant / Silver Dollar |
| Hardiness | H7 (Very Hardy) |
| Light Required | Part Shade / Sun ⛅ |
| Height | ↕️ 75cm - 90cm |
| Spread | ↔️ 30cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 30cm apart |
| Great for | 🍂 Dried Decoration 🌳 Shady Borders 🦋 Spring Butterflies 💐 Cut Flowers |
| Seed Count | Approx. 50 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
Honesty blooms in late spring, making it the perfect partner for tulips and shade-lovers:
- 🌷 Late Flowering Tulips: The Spring Finale. The vivid purple of Honesty flowers provides a lush, wild backdrop for late white or pink tulips (like 'Angelique' or 'White Triumphator'). It covers the dying tulip foliage perfectly.
- 🌿 Ferns & Foxgloves: The Woodland Trio. Honesty, Foxgloves, and Ferns all thrive in the same dappled shade conditions. Plant them together for an effortless, naturalistic "secret garden" corner.
📅 Sowing & Flowering Calendar
Sow in summer. Plant out in autumn. Flowers spring. Harvest pods late summer.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Outdoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Flowers | 🌸 | 🌸 | 🌸 | |||||||||
| Harvest Silver Pods | 🍂 | 🍂 | 🍂 |
⚠️ Vital Information
Honesty is a member of the Brassica family. If you grow cabbages or kale, do not plant Honesty right next to them, as they can share pests like clubroot or cabbage white caterpillars.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
This is a top-tier wildlife plant. Lunaria annua is listed on the RHS Plants for Pollinators list and is a vital nectar source for the Orange Tip butterfly in spring.
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£2.20 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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£2.20
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