It is technically a biennial, though it often self-seeds so freely that it appears perennial.

Can I grow it in shade?

Yes, it thrives in partial shade and actually prefers it in warmer climates.

Plant guide

Honesty.

Lunaria annua

Pronounced loo-NAIR-ee-uh AN-yoo-uh

Also known as Annual Honesty, Honesty

Lunaria annua — Photo by Patrick Le Mao (CC0) via gbif

Honesty is a charming biennial that brings a touch of magic to the garden with its purple flowers and unique papery seed pods. It is a favorite for dried flower arrangements because those translucent pods look just like silver coins. You will love how easily it self seeds, ensuring you have new plants popping up every year.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Biennial
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 3 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 8
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to help these plants thrive. Watch for wilting leaves which signal a need for water, and leave spent flower stalks in place if you want the silvery seed pods, or remove them to prevent self-seeding. If the plant looks crowded, thin out the seedlings to give them room to grow.

Watering: Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season.
Pruning: Snip off faded flower spikes to keep the plant tidy and prevent unwanted spread.
Repotting: Since these are biennials, you will likely only need to repot them if you are starting them in containers before moving them outdoors.
Soil: Moist, well-draining soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
Temperature: -20 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Biennial, typically 2 years.
Fragrance: Light
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water draining through the pot too quickly.
The plant looks stunted despite regular care.

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non-toxic, but ingestion is not recommended.
Children: The dried seed pods can be a choking hazard if left within reach of small children.
Contact allergens: Handling the foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen can trigger mild hay fever symptoms in some people during the flowering season.
Edibility: While the young leaves are sometimes eaten, they are not a common food source and should be treated with caution.

How to identify it

Heart shaped coarsely toothed leaves
Clusters of fragrant purple flowers
Flat papery translucent seed pods
Biennial growth habit

Height: 0.6 to 0.9m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.45m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: purple, white, 2 to 4cm
Fruit: silvery, translucent, Late summer

Problems to watch for

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: In colder regions, provide a light layer of mulch to protect the crown during the first winter. Ensure the soil remains well-drained to prevent root rot.
In containers: It grows well in large containers, provided they have excellent drainage and are at least 30 centimeters deep.

Seed Sowing

1. Collect dry pods in late summer.
2. Remove the seeds from the papery casing.
3. Sow seeds directly into the garden in autumn or spring.
4. Cover lightly with soil and keep moist until germination.

Plant these near other shade-loving biennials to create a rotating display of color throughout the garden.

Grows well with

Forget-me-not · They share similar light and moisture requirements in woodland settings.
Columbine · These plants provide a beautiful contrast in flower shape and bloom time.

Similar species

Honesty · This is a true perennial version of the more common biennial money plant.

Science

Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Lunaria
Order: Brassicales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Central and southern Europe.
Conservation: This plant is not of conservation concern and is considered a naturalized species in many regions.

It grows in woodland edges and disturbed soils where it can easily spread via wind-dispersed seeds.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, larval host plant
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ornamental garden plant, dried flower arrangements

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 5/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it a perennial?: It is technically a biennial, though it often self-seeds so freely that it appears perennial.
Can I grow it in shade?: Yes, it thrives in partial shade and actually prefers it in warmer climates.

Where the name comes from

The scientific name Lunaria refers to the moon-like appearance of the translucent seed pods, while annua is a bit of a misnomer as it is a biennial.

Good to know

The name Lunaria comes from the Latin word for moon, referring to the shape of the seed pods.
It is a biennial, meaning it grows leaves in the first year and flowers in the second.
The silvery membrane of the seed pod is actually the septum that remains after the outer valves fall off.
It is a traditional cottage garden favorite.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.