(Lunaria annua ‘Moonwort’)
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Moonwort is a biennial flower that is native to southern Europe but can be commonly found growing in open woods, sand dunes, quarries, and well-drained meadows throughout the northeastern and northwestern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features hairy stems, serrated heart-shaped green leaves, 1/2” 4 petaled purple flowers, and paper-thin translucent fruits that are the size of a silver-dollar. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and butterflies, tolerates drought, self sows, and is both edible and medicinal!
Received the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticulture Society.
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Lunaria
Species: annua
Variety: Moonwort
Also Known As: Silver Dollar Plant, Honesty, Money plant, Bolbonac
Native to: France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland.
Introduced into: Alabama, Albania, Argentina South, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, British Columbia, California, Central European Rus, Colorado, Connecticut, Corse, Czechoslovakia, Delaware, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Ireland, Kentucky, Madeira, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Norway, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Pennsylvania, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Sweden, Tennessee, Ukraine, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Yugoslavia.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Biennial
Maturity (Blooms): Spring
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Medium
Soil Moisture: Medium
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. The flowers of this plant attract bees and butterflies.
Containers: Yes. Fits easily in almost any garden or container.
Height: 18-30'
Spacing: 10-12”
Sow Depth: 1/8"
USDA Zone: 2a-9b
Produces: hairy stems, serrated heart-shaped green leaves, 1/2” 4 petaled purple flowers, and paper-thin translucent fruits that are the size of a silver-dollar.
Genus: Lunaria
Species: annua
Variety: Moonwort
Also Known As: Silver Dollar Plant, Honesty, Money plant, Bolbonac
Native to: France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland.
Introduced into: Alabama, Albania, Argentina South, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, British Columbia, California, Central European Rus, Colorado, Connecticut, Corse, Czechoslovakia, Delaware, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Ireland, Kentucky, Madeira, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Norway, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Pennsylvania, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Sweden, Tennessee, Ukraine, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Yugoslavia.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Biennial
Maturity (Blooms): Spring
Light: Full Sun to Part Shade
Water: Medium
Soil Moisture: Medium
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. The flowers of this plant attract bees and butterflies.
Containers: Yes. Fits easily in almost any garden or container.
Height: 18-30'
Spacing: 10-12”
Sow Depth: 1/8"
USDA Zone: 2a-9b
Produces: hairy stems, serrated heart-shaped green leaves, 1/2” 4 petaled purple flowers, and paper-thin translucent fruits that are the size of a silver-dollar.
Direct sow seeds in early fall, planting them just below the surface of the soil. For spring planting, mix the seeds with moist sand and store in the refrigerator for 60 days before planting; keep the soil lightly moist until germination. This seed can also be started indoors 6-8 weeks before planting in the spring. Plant two seeds in each peat pot and keep the soil moist until germination. Since these plants dislike having their roots disturbed, plant them outdoors as soon as possible after the last chance of frost.
Water seedlings until they become established. Mature plants also appreciate occasional watering, though they also tolerate drought. This plant usually produces only foliage in its first year, coming to its full height and blooming in the second. The flowers of this plant attract bees and butterflies. This plant usually self-sows in good growing conditions.
These ornamental seed pods make long-lasting additions to dried flower arrangements. After the pods have completely dried on the plant, cut the stems and hang them upside down in a dry place until the entire stem is dry. If desired, carefully remove the outer layer of the seed pods to reveal the silvery inner layer.
After the seed pods have dried on the plant, remove them and spread them out to dry completely. Open the pods to remove the flat seeds. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place.
Seed - cooked:
A pungent flavor, they are used as a mustard substitute. The pungency of mustard develops when cold water is added to the ground-up seed - an enzyme (myrosin) acts on a glycoside (sinigrin) to produce a sulphur compound. The reaction takes 10 - 15 minutes. Mixing with hot water or vinegar, or adding salt, inhibits the enzyme and produces a mild bitter mustard.
Root - raw:
Used before the plant produces flowers.
A pungent flavor, they are used as a mustard substitute. The pungency of mustard develops when cold water is added to the ground-up seed - an enzyme (myrosin) acts on a glycoside (sinigrin) to produce a sulphur compound. The reaction takes 10 - 15 minutes. Mixing with hot water or vinegar, or adding salt, inhibits the enzyme and produces a mild bitter mustard.
Root - raw:
Used before the plant produces flowers.
Silver dollar will cozy up to just about any other plant but you might be quite delighted pairing them with various tulips, Forget-Me-Not, Foxglove, and Hakone Grass. If you want to attract more beneficial insects and creatures to your garden, add an herb patch.
Suggested Varieties
(Digitalis purpurea ‘Foxglove’)
Foxglove is a biennial/short lived perennial flower that is native to eastern Europe but can be commonly found growing in open woods, woodland clearings, moorland and heath margins, sea-cliffs, rocky mountain slopes and hedge banks throughout the northeastern and northwestern United States. At maturity, this plant features thick, textured leaves at the base and tall spikes of tubular, dangling 2-3” blossoms of rose pink or purple with tiny contrasting spots. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer and rabbits, and is great as a cut flower!