Lunaria biennis Moench
Lunaria biennis is an older name for honesty, the plant now usually known as Lunaria annua, an upright biennial of the cabbage family from south-eastern Europe and western Asia that has long been grown and naturalised in Britain. The name biennis aptly describes its habit: a rosette of coarse, heart-shaped, toothed leaves in the first year, followed in the second by tall branching stems of four-petalled flowers in purple, or occasionally white.
About
Lunaria biennis is an older name for honesty, the plant now usually known as Lunaria annua, an upright biennial of the cabbage family from south-eastern Europe and western Asia that has long been grown and naturalised in Britain. The name biennis aptly describes its habit: a rosette of coarse, heart-shaped, toothed leaves in the first year, followed in the second by tall branching stems of four-petalled flowers in purple, or occasionally white.
It grows happily in light shade or sun on most ordinary soils and suits woodland edges, hedge bottoms and relaxed cottage-style borders. The spring blooms provide early nectar for bees and butterflies, while later in the season the plant forms its celebrated flattened seedpods, which dry to thin, silvery, see-through discs prized for indoor displays. A generous self-seeder, it naturalises with ease and returns year after year once established.
In our seed mixes
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.