Lunaria annua
honesty
Delivery options
- Seed Packets (only) £2.95
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: moderatey fertile, moist but well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: May to June
- Hardiness: fully hardy
White to lilac summer flowers are followed by translucent, flattened seed heads. These will remain on the plant well into autumn, or if picked and dried, make excellent additions to dried flower arrangements. Given a sunny or partially shady site with fertile, moist, well-drained soil this charming biennial will happily self-seed. As the flowers are highly-attractive to butterflies and bees, they are perfect for naturalising in a wild garden, meadow, or at the woodland edge.
Water regularly, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong blooming, and allow some seed pods to mature if you want the plant to self-seed for the next season, or for use in dried flower arrangements. Pinching out the tips as they grow will encourage bushier growth. Lunaria may need staking, particularly in more exposed positions.
Sow the seeds straight into a well-prepared seedbed in early summer, planting approx 2.5mm deep. Thin out as soon as they are large enough to handle, replanting the extras so there is approximately 30cm between each. Pinching out the tips as they grow will encourage bushier growth.