Learn how to grow the silver dollar plant, or Lunaria annua, in your garden. The silvery seed pods will add a new level of beauty to your garden and are sought after for floral art. Expert Kevin Espiritu will guide you through the steps to grow and care for this interesting annual.Many gardeners hate weeds. They will curse them under their breath as they drag the roots from the soil and toss them onto the compost pile with relish.
In her well-known book “To Kill a Mockingbird”, Harper Lee describes Miss Maudie’s reaction to a blade of nutgrass with sufficient illustration: “She swooped down upon it with a tin tub and subjected it to blasts from beneath with a poisonous substance she said was so powerful it’d kill us all if we didn’t stand out of the way.”
The silver dollar plant is one of those plants that gardeners tend to see as a weed. And it is indeed an invasive plant species in Virginia, Michigan, and Oregon. While it is lovely, if you live in one of these states, try planting alternatives that add the same interest to your garden.
Now, let’s discuss caring for the silver dollar plant, and how to manage and cultivate one in your garden. Not all weeds are created equal. Take the Lunaria annua, also known as the money plant, the silver dollar plant, the honesty plant, and the moonwort. Because of its rather prolific nature, this plant is sometimes called a perennial. Lunaria annua, or silver dollar plant, is native to southeastern Europe and western Asia, especially in regions like the Balkans and Turkey. It thrives in woodland edges, clearings, and damp, shady areas, typically favoring well-drained, fertile soils.
Although not native, Lunaria annua has spread widely beyond its origin, especially in temperate regions, due to its ornamental appeal and ability to naturalize easily. This annual or biennial plant is prized for its vibrant purple flowers and unique, translucent seed pods, which resemble silver coins and are often used in dried floral arrangements.
The very aspects that lead some to consider it a weed can be very useful to a gardener, especially one with children to introduce to the gardening world. They are easy to grow, forgiving if neglected (almost to a fault), and beautiful to behold. And according to lore, having a patch of it may keep your kids honest!
This flowering plant can grow 24 to 36 inches in height. In its first year, it mainly sprouts heart-shaped foliage, but in its second year, it brings fragrant lavender flowers and the famous silvery seed pods that give this plant its name.
If you’re unfamiliar with these fascinating plants, or even if you know them and usually give them wide berth for their weed association, give them a consideration as you read through this guide on silver dollar plant care. However, note that they are invasive in Virginia, Oregon, and Michigan, and your garden may benefit from removal and replacement with a similar alternative. In the maintenance section of this piece, we’ll discuss how to keep the silver dollar plant in bounds.