Lunaria Silver Dollar Typically known as lunaria or silver dollar plants, these iridescent “leaves” are actually the seed pods from the plant known as Lunaria annua. Lunaria plants are classified as biennials so you’ll see a basal rosette of leaves during its first year and purple flowers or seedpods emerge the following year.
The seed pods that follow the silver dollar plant’s flowers are known as “silicles.” They start out green in color, later shedding the shade along with their seeds. The fully dried seed pod that remains (which is actually just a see-through membrane) is off-white in color with a sheen that makes it shine like a coin. These “silver dollars” are papery to the touch and not perfectly round but rather flat and oblong, with a short, needle-like projection that hangs down from the bottom of each seed pod. Plant lunaria in spring after the final frost—it will grow quickly, with seedlings emerging in just 10 to 14 days.
Lunaria Care
Many gardeners plant lunaria along woodland borders, where they won’t have to fuss with them. Though silver dollar plants are not perennials, they’ll thrive and seed on their own as long as the conditions are right. Under the right growing conditions, one plant will eventually multiply into many plants, and it’s their ability to re-seed that makes them such aggressive spreaders to the point of being invasive. However, if you’re hoping to contain your lunaria collection, controlling the plant is straightforward enough.
Native to both Europe and Asia, lunaria is actually part of the Brassicaceae family, making them the relative of foods like broccoli and Brussels sprouts.
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