Lunaria Annua ‘Money Plant’

August 4th, 2008

Silver Dollar PlantI got this plant courtesy of my grandfather, it is one of his favorites and always grew at his house in a large mass planting.

This is one interesting plant with many phases for you to enjoy.

It is a biennial, which means it lives for two years and then dies. The first year it grows around 6 inches or so high, it takes the snow without losing it’s green, and then the second year it rapidly shoots up to spring to as high as 3 or 4 feet high and has bright purple flowers. It flowers in early Spring when there is not very much else of height flowering like it does, more or less between tulips and irises. It then slowly forms seed pods which then flake away revealing shiny silver disks, which give it it’s many names.

My grandfather called them “silver dollars” the more common names though seem to be “Money Plant” or “Honesty.” Apparently the plant can make you money as well. My grandfather always insisted that you could take the dried stalks with the shiny seed pod remnants and sell them to florists for big bucks. I don’t know about that, I’ve never tried it, but I do like this plant.

It reseeds very very well, you can literally just toss the seeds on the soil and they’ll grow. I cut down mature plants and just shake the seeds off and where they land they will germinate, but it isn’t really invasive, if it sprouts somewhere you do not want it to it is very easy to control.

Since it is a biennial I recommend planting your seeds one year, holding some back, and sowing those the next, so you get staggered plantings so that eventually you’ll have some plants blooming every year.

Lunaria Annua Money PlantI’ve grown this plant in both full sun and part shade, even full shade, it doesn’t seem to care. I have noticed where it has grown in less than idea conditions (a seed germinates somewhere I didn’t mean for it to, but I let it grow anyways) it doesn’t grow as high or get as many blossoms, so it seems to really react well to good fertile soil, but that is about it.

I want to make an offer to blog readers, my seed pods are mostly ready about now, so if anyone mails me a self-addressed stamped envelope I will mail you back free seeds so you can get your own started. This offer is only good until the end of August though, and if like 100 people send me letters I may run out, but I’ll do my best to send everyone free seeds.

You can send your envelopes to

1836 N Harrison Rd
East Lansing, MI 48823

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Posted in: Plant Profiles » 

22 Responses to “Lunaria Annua ‘Money Plant’”

  1. Mrs. Greenhands  Says:
    August 4th, 2008 at 1:57 pm

    I love the money plant - this first year flowers are so pretty and the second year “money” pods made great fall arrangements!

  2. Daisy  Says:
    August 4th, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    My grandmother used to LOVE her money plants. I used to love to pick apart the “silver dollars” to get the seeds out.

  3. Anne  Says:
    August 4th, 2008 at 4:42 pm

    Thanks for this post! I’m planning my front garden/landscaping for next year (currently smothering the lawn so we can start fresh with non-mowable plants), and my color scheme is black and white (and silver and purple). This will be perfect!

  4. Valerie Trout  Says:
    September 2nd, 2008 at 7:23 am

    Hi…your free money plant seed offer was until the end of August. Unfortunately, I just now saw your offer. Do you have any left? I can send an envelope should you have any…..THANKS.

  5. Administrator  Says:
    September 2nd, 2008 at 7:26 am

    yes, I still have some

  6. Administrator  Says:
    September 2nd, 2008 at 3:59 pm

    Remember… send a stamped envelop. I had one person just send a plain envelop and it was international too.

  7. Michelle  Says:
    September 3rd, 2008 at 8:39 am

    I was thrilled to find your website and discussion about the Money Plant. I too, have fond memories of this plant growing in my grandmother’s garden. She passed away and my cousin cleared her garden, and somehow, no seeds survived. Anyway, I found more of this plant during a walk and took some seed pods to harvest. Knowing nothing about growing this plant, I am happy to see your info. about planting this beautiful plant which will help me keep the memory of my special grandmother alive in my garden! Thank you!

  8. Lovely  Says:
    September 11th, 2008 at 4:29 pm

    Hi Chris,

    I got the free seeds today, thank you so much.I’m so excited to have my own started.

    GOD bless you :-)

  9. Administrator  Says:
    September 15th, 2008 at 9:14 am

    Yes

  10. Mon Good  Says:
    October 1st, 2008 at 5:16 pm

    Honestly,I just read your generous offer for seeds from your Honesty plants. I know I missed the deadline. Just thought I’d check to see if you still have some. Of course, with the economic
    situation of our country, maybe you want to grow all the money plants you can. Guess it is no joking matter. Love to hear from you.
    M. Good

  11. Administrator  Says:
    October 1st, 2008 at 5:28 pm

    Yes, I still got some. Send away.

  12. Christina  Says:
    October 3rd, 2008 at 1:56 pm

    I live in an arid climate and most of my plants are indoors. Can the seeds grow in a pot? What care will it need?

  13. Vino  Says:
    November 17th, 2008 at 10:35 am

    I planted the seeds in the spring of 2006 - during the summer the leaves of the plant grew and grew (looking almost like a cabbage patch) but no flowers came up. I also shared the seeds with other people who had the same experience. Does it usually take this long to flower? The leaves are very well developed.

  14. Pam  Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 4:05 pm

    I am VERY, very late in reading this posting. Might there be seeds left? If yes, I’d be happy to drop an envelope into the mail system.

  15. Administrator  Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    I think so Pam, I have to remember where I stashed them, but I know there were some left.

  16. Pam  Says:
    January 12th, 2009 at 8:58 pm

    Thanks - I’ll drop a SASE into the mail!

  17. Nancy  Says:
    January 26th, 2009 at 7:07 am

    Oooh I hope I’m not too late…I’ll send a SASE today!! :)

  18. Administrator  Says:
    February 3rd, 2009 at 10:01 am

    Alright folks, I’m out of seeds.

  19. Nancy  Says:
    February 10th, 2009 at 1:01 pm

    Hey thank you so so much for the seeds…they arrived on Saturday.. =)

  20. zoe  Says:
    March 18th, 2009 at 9:18 am

    OH! I just found the seeds I got from you last fall. I totally forgot about them. I’m so excited to get them in the ground this spring. I am also sharing some with a few friends so we can all enjoy this plant! Thank you again for sharing.

  21. JoAnn Phillips  Says:
    May 12th, 2009 at 9:40 am

    Hi..I actually spotted this plant last year at the park where I walk my Dog and wanted to pick the pods for the seeds and never did. Well today I saw the pink flowers and the green pods, so I pick two of the pods. Do I have to remove the seeds to dry out or can I plant them intact? I remember this plant from my Mom-in-Law who has passed, any guidance is greatly appreciated.
    Thanks….

  22. Kelly  Says:
    June 23rd, 2009 at 7:12 pm

    My grandmother just gave me the plant with the seeds still inside. She instructed me to let it dry out more and then remove the seeds and plant them in the fall.
    Is the fall the ideal time to plan? Or should I be doing it now in the summer?

    Thanks so much!

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