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lynn_nevins

Is this 'silver dollar'?

2 years ago

I found these seed pods in the Boston (zone 5?) area. Anyone know if it's 'silver dollar'? Thanks!

Comments (19)

  • 2 years ago



  • 2 years ago

    If you mean honesty plant, Lunaria annua, yes it is. It is a widely naturalized biennial.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    There are a few plants known as 'Silver Dollar' but no others called Honesty afaik. Maybe best to call it that if you use a common name.

  • 2 years ago

    Thanks everyone. When I look up the lunaria plant, the overall pods are more rounded, whereas the ones I have come to pointed ends. In addition, the seeds in mine are flat and round/bean shaped, whereas the lunaria seeds I see online appear more like lines/slivers....unless they eventually morph into a more round shape? Thanks!

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    I saw a site that had seedpods that look like yours, called it silver dollar and... lunaria. I think you have lunaria seeds.


    https://sowrightseeds.com/blogs/planters-library/money-plant-how-to-grow-lunaria-silver-dollar-plant

  • 2 years ago

    This plant has a variety of common names, including money plant, moneywort, penny flower, silver dollar, and money-in-both-pockets, Chinese money, or Chinese coins. But it is most commonly referred to as honesty due to the translucent pods (actually siliques) that clearly or "honestly" reveal their interiors.

  • 2 years ago

    OK, thanks everyone!

  • 2 years ago

    Moonwort. Not to be confused with Woundwort or Gypsywort. My favorite new British common name is Codlins and Cream. Lunaria can be invasive under the right conditions. It's on the invasive list for a couple states in New England. Hold onto your money.

  • 2 years ago

    Just to be clear, none of those vernacular names refers to Lunaria annua.



  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    I thought Moonwort was a common name. I saw it at Missouri Botanical Garden, but they confused Lunaria annua with Botrychium lunaria which is called Moonwort.


  • 2 years ago

    Lunaria may be called Moonwort in the US but not in the UK. That name is reserved for a rare fern.


  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    lunaria rediviva has slightly differently shaped seedpods - more elongated with a distinct point at one end. I wouldn't insist that the OP has the perennial variety as the photo still looked like lunaria annua...but there is a commonly grown perennial variety...as well as some hybrids such as Corfu Blue which do differ from the standard biennial seedpods.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    I have Lunaria and have had it on my property since we moved here. I didn't plant it here. It is one of my favorite plants. SO pretty in bloom. So easy. It reseeds, it needs no care basically and tolerates a lot of everything the weather throws at it. Some years it reseeds a lot and some years it's almost disappeared. They do not travel or spread and are very easily pulled out. I wouldn't be without it. It blooms at the same time white Bleeding Heart does and they look very good together.






  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Lunaria puts on a good show along my house early, but the show doesn't last long. I didn't plant these (previous occupant must have), but they reseed themselves pretty reliably.



  • 2 years ago

    I would guess that a lot of people aren't aware of the perennial Lunaria species. Rediviva is a nice perennial option, although the flowers aren't as deeply colored as those of annua. I wouldn't risk growing them for fear that they could escape. I'm happy with my native Brassicaceae alternatives of Iodanthus pinnatifida and Cardimine bulbosa.

    Lunaria redivisa

    Lunaria redivisa

    Moonwort, Botrychium lunaria.

  • 2 years ago

    Wow, that is a cool looking plant, Jay (Botrychium).

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Sadly quite rare, rosa. I've never seen it myself. It needs undisturbed grassland, which is growing ever scarcer.


  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Botrychium lunaria is the only Botrychium species in the UK. North America has 29 species including B. lunaria which is circumpolar. They are all referred to as moonworts.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botrychium


    Observations for Botrychium in the UK.



    I think Ophioglossum is more common in the UK.

    Adder's Tongue Fern

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophioglossaceae

    There are 2 genera mentioned in the above link, that are sometimes lumped into Botrychium by some taxonomists. Below is Sceptridium disectum.


    I have never seen any of these ferns in the wild. I really should make an effort to.

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