About
Lunaria rediviva, perennial honesty, is a vigorous, clump-forming herbaceous perennial to 90 cm with toothed, triangular-heart-shaped leaves and panicles of perfumed, lilac-white flowers 2.5 cm wide in spring and early summer. Elliptical, silvery-transparent seedheads follow and are excellent for drying. A graceful, long-lived and rewarding plant for a shaded or partly shaded border.
About the genus
Lunaria, the honesty plants, are annuals, biennials or perennials with triangular-ovate leaves and leafy racemes of four-petalled flowers in late spring and early summer, followed by conspicuous, silvery-transparent, disc-shaped seedheads. Popular plants for shaded borders and dried flower arrangements.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden
Native toEurope
Care notes
CultivationGrow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade
PruningTransluscent seed pods are excellent for dried flower arrangements
PropagationPropagate by seed in spring or divide in spring
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to club root, white blister and a virus