Fwd: Lunaria

Yes, Lunaria is indeed an amazing plant.  It is a biennial, meaning it lives 
for two years, sending up shoots the first year and flowering the second.  
But, since this plant self seeds so readily, there are flowering plants in 
the garden every year. 

The thing I love about Lunaria is that you can collect the seeds and still 
have wonderful dried seedheads to decorate the house in winter.  When they 
are dry, just rub two fingers on either side of the seedheads and the layers 
with the seed will drop, leaving the showy, silvery septum.  There are always 
plenty of seeds for sharing with others.  

While most books say the flowers are not showy, I find the flowering recemes 
to be quite charming, and they are fragrant.  The species has purple flowers 
and there is also a white-flowered variety.  There is even a variety with 
variegated leaves. 
They flower in late spring and the showy fruit (seedheads) develop mid 
summer.  In fact, I just cut mine today.  They do look pretty ratty in the 
garden for awhile before the seeds fully ripen, so mine are in the cutting 
bed and not the perennial borders.  Another reason for being careful where 
you plant it is that is tends to seed itself all over the garden.  

Lunaria annua is the Latin name, and it is also known as Lunaria biennis.  It 
was derived from Luna, meaning moon, and refers to the round shape of the 
seed heads.  It is native to Southern Europe.  The plants are 2 to 3 feet 
tall.  They are easy to grow, just plant them in sun or part shade in 
well-drained soil.  
--Janis

>>
I have been looking for information on the Lunaria Plant. It is
otherwise called Silver
Dollar, Moonwort, Honesty, or Penny Flower.

Please send me information on this amazing plant. When dried, the leaves

will separate into three layers and there are seeds between the layers.
The middle layer is usually used in dried floral arrangements and is
silvery in appearance.

I saw this plant growing at the side of my sister-in-law's house when I
visited
Toronto, in June this year. I heard that it grows in the wild in
Louisiana.

In the mean time I will continue to search for more information. I did
find some information on your web site.

Thank you.

Janette Chin
>>



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