The lure of lunaria
The “coins” harvested from lunaria at the end of the summer are said to resemble silver coins. Stalks of “the money plant” can be used to enrich any indoor dried arrangement.
Photo by L.A. Jackson
Fascinating is the plant that can visually hook gardeners, not with fancy foliage nor flashy flowers, but rather dried seed pods—those faded leftovers of a glorious growing season. Well, welcome to the strangely fascinating world of lunaria (Lunaria annua), also known as money plant because of the round, parchment-like seed casings it produces in late summer that have the shimmer of freshly minted silver coins.
Although it originates from southwest Asia, lunaria has been an heirloom favorite in Southern gardens since it was introduced to the American colonies in the 1600s, with the seeds of this easy-to-grow plant being passed down through the generations.
Sown in late summer, the seeds of this biennial will produce 2- to 3-foot plants the next spring that will pleasingly pop with clusters of small white or purple flowers above the foliage. But while the blooms are cute—and also attract butterflies—they are only an opening act to the main attraction. It is the flat, spherical seed pods that add the most interest to the garden when their green coverings turn a dull brown, fall off and reveal the shiny inner ovals, which contain seeds for next year’s crop. When cleaned of their coverings and seeds, the delicate, glistening “coins” are especially eye-catching—as well as long-lasting—in dried indoor flower arrangements.
Lunaria will grow from seed almost anywhere in our state, but for healthier, better-producing plants, choose a site that has well-worked, compost-enriched soil and gets, if possible, some morning sun and dappled shade during the heat of the day. And don't worry about deer—to them, lunaria is not considered a desirable munchie.
After flowering but before the seed pods dry on their stems, common lunaria tends to disappear into the typical summer garden’s deep sea of jade. However, Variegata and Alba Variegata are snazzy cultivars that show off brightly dappled leaves and are quite capable of adding sightly sparks to help lighten up a green, green, green landscape. These showy selections probably won’t be easily found locally, but an e-search will quickly locate seeds of these botanical pretties for sale online.
Keep in mind that a happy stand of lunaria can readily reseed to the point of being invasive if the pods mature and are not harvested yearly, so be sure to pick and pass along the seeds of this beauty to keep it from becoming a beast in your garden.
August in the Garden
• ’Tis the time of the tiny terrors. Minute menaces such as aphids, flea beetles, spider mites, thrips and whiteflies tend to be at their worst during hot weather.
• Continue harvesting mature cucumbers, squash, green beans, indeterminate tomatoes and okra plants at least once or twice a week to encourage maximum production from these summer veggies.
• Herbs will be at their peaks of flavor just before their flowers begin to bloom, so plan and pick accordingly.
• Outdoor ornamentals such as coleus, geraniums, impatiens, wax begonias and fuchsias can be easily rooted in pots and brought indoors in a few months to brighten up a home’s interior during the winter months.
• Looking to add more visible snap-crackle-pop to the midsummer garden? Grab your sunscreen and big, floppy shade hat, and check out local botanical gardens, arboretums, city parks or even garden centers to see what kinds of plants are showing off the best for them during these hazy, lazy days of August.
Tip of the Month
Do you enjoy the bright berry displays of hollies, nandinas and pyracanthas that begin to glow on crisp autumn days and last into the chill of winter? To ensure a bumper crop of such berries later this year, pay close attention to your bushes’ water needs now. The stress from extended periods of hot, dry weather can sometimes cause these plants to shed their immature berries, so pamper them through such arid times by refreshing their moisture-retaining mulch and watering deeply—long, thorough soaks that seep well down into the root zone—at least once a week if the rains don’t come.
L.A. Jackson is the former editor of Carolina Gardener magazine. Contact him at lajackson1@gmail.com.