Gro 'n Sell
Lunaria (32)
With the return in popularity of dried flowers people are once again growing good old fashioned Honesty. I remember them in my grandmother's garden and certainly had dusty old vases of them around my childhood house growing up!
By late 2019 we were seeing their silvery seed heads show up in big fancy wedding designs and demand was outstripping supply. This is a true biennial that needs a winter chill before it will flower and make pods. These large transplants will have received that chill, and should be ready to flower in their first season.
Lunaria tends to reseed around the garden, which I view as a benefit. The pods start green and have to be cleaned to expose the silvery inside. Or they can be used fresh in their green form. An excellent addition to fresh or dried arrangements and wreaths!
About Tray Sizes (please read)
210 and 125 cell trays are full-sized trays, and three of these will fit in a shipping box.
50 cell trays are half-sized trays (unless otherwise noted) and two of these are the equivalent of one full sized tray. Six of these will fit in a shipping box. These trays are long and skinny. (Think hotdogs). There are not compatible with 25 cell half trays. Scoop scabiosa, veronica, solidago, gypsophila, hypericum, herbs, some tweedia, and others are grown in the 50 cell tray.
*Chrysanthemums are grown in the same 50 cell half tray as mentioned above, but due to their height, they take up twice as much space. So TWO half trays of mums takes up 2/3 of the box.
25 cell half trays are also half-sized trays, but they are short and square. (Think hamburgers). These are not compatible with 50 cell half trays. Limonium and astrantia are grown in this tray.
Gerberas are also grown in a 25 cell half tray, but are tall that the others, and FOUR of these half trays of gerberas fills a box.
18 and 32 cell trays are full sized trays specifically for our vernalized perennials. These have their own set of shipping rules (find details HERE) and cannot be combined with items grown in 210, 125, or 50 cell trays.
Growing Guides
Click here to access all of our comprehensive growing guides.
| Common Name | Honesty, Silver Dollar, Money Plant |
| Genus | Lunaria |
| Species | L. annua |
| Family | Brassicaceae |
| Life Cycle | Biennial (Vegetative first year, flowers second year) |
| Format | 125-cell plug tray |
| Plug Care | Harden off and plant plugs promptly after arrival. Maintain evenly moist but well-drained growing medium; avoid both waterlogging and drought conditions. Any stress on the plants at this stage will diminish their overall success. These plants grow a taproot upon maturity so do not leave them in their cell trays for an extended period of time. |
| Netting / Staking | Not necessary - lunaria have naturally strong, upright stems. |
| Temperature Range | Lunaria tolerates a wide range of temperatures and growing conditions. They can be grown in most climates and will overwinter down to USDA zone 4. |
| Spacing | Space 12 to 18 inches apart to facilitate their large size upon maturity. |
| Soil Preference | For the best quality plants with the tallest stems, plant in rich, moist, well-draining soils. Will grow in most average soils but the plants will stay smaller with fewer pods in poor soil. Vegetative plants will overwinter best when soil is freely draining and not saturated over the winter. |
| Day Length | day-neutral: these plants flower early in the season and the pods are ready to harvest mid-summer. Plant in full sun for best results. |
| Pinching | Pinching not necessary. |
| When to Plant | Plant in the spring after the soil has warmed and the threat of frost has passed. You can also plant this crop later into the summer - don't forget they won't flower until year 2. They develop a taproot and don't transplant well once mature. |
| Harvesting | Harvest when seed pods are mature. The pods have a cover on either side that will naturally slough off or can be manually removed. If left to shed naturally, the seeds will drop into the garden and they will self-seed readily. This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what you're looking for. |
| Post Harvest Care | These seed pods can be used in fresh arrangements or they can be hung and dried. |
| Diseases / Insects | Lunaria is in the brassica family and is susceptible to the same diseases and pests that other brassicas are prone to. Watch for aphids and cabbage white caterpillars. Ensure they are planted in well draining soil to avoid root diseases. |
| Bailey's Notes | Lunaria is a standout in the dried flower world - the translucent, silvery “coins” (siliques) are highly prized in arrangements and wreaths. Because the dried pods last almost indefinitely, this crop can add long-term value to your product mix - as both fresh (with green pods) and dried stages contribute to design versatility. |
| Resources | NA |