Moneywort Lunaria annua
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Moneywort:
- Phonetic Spelling
- loo-NAIR-ee-uh AN-yoo-uh
- Description
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Silver Dollar is an herbaceous biennial in the mustard family. It grows up to 3' tall and is taller than it is broad. The flat papery fruits are showy and are this plant's most valued feature. Flowers bloom in late spring to summer and the fruits appear in midsummer. This plant flowers the 2nd year from propagation by seed. Lunaria is derived from luna, the Latin name for moon, a reference to the shape of the fruit. It is used most often in dried floral arrangements. This plant requires full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. If you start it in your garden it will be there forever as it can be weedy.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
Quick ID Hints:
- Fruit is orbicular, flat silicle with a papery septum
- Racemose flowers have 4 clawed petals
- Leaves are toothed, alternate, cordate
It is reported as invasive in some areas of the country.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Lunaria annua var. alba
White flowers
- Lunaria annua var. alba
- Lunaria annua var. alba
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Lunaria annua var. alba
White flowers
- Lunaria annua var. alba
- Lunaria annua var. alba
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lunaria
- Species:
- annua
- Family:
- Brassicaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Fruit Description:
- Paper-thin, flat, orbicular, flat silicle, silver dollar sized fruits that become translucent with age and resemble a full moon, hence one of the common names. Septums are pearly white in color.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 2-6 inch terminal racemes of pink, white, or purple 1/2 inch deeply clawed flowers with branching veins. Bloom time is late spring to summer and they have a pleasant fragrance.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, simple, broad-ovate to heart-shaped (cordate), acute, cordate, and coarsely dentate. Upper leaves are sessile or subsessile. Leaves are pointed at the tip and are up to 3.5 inches long by 2 inches wide.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Hairy stems are erect, tall, and branching. Green to reddish-green.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Problems:
- Weedy
