Image: AI generated
Annual Honesty Plant Care
Lunaria annua L.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Lunaria annua, commonly called honesty or annual honesty, is a species of flowering plant in the cabbage and mustard family Brassicaceae. It is native to southern Europe, and cultivated throughout the temperate world.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–75°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Annual Honesty?
Water Annual Honesty every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Annual Honesty Native To?
What Is the Annual Honesty?
Annual Honesty (Lunaria annua) belongs to the Brassicaceae family within the Lunaria genus. Annual Honesty is native to southern Europe, and cultivated throughout the temperate world. Annual Honesty is also known as Money Plant, Silver Dollar Plant, Honesty.
Annual Honesty displays an upright, branching biennial growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Annual Honesty produces clusters of purple, pink, or white flowers with papery, translucent seed pods.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Annual Honesty?
Lunaria annua requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Annual Honesty Need?
Annual Honesty thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Annual Honesty Prefer?
Lunaria annua grows best at temperatures of 50–75°F. Annual Honesty prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
50–75°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Annual Honesty?
Well-draining, fertile soil with a neutral pH. Good drainage is essential for Annual Honesty to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Annual Honesty?
Feed Annual Honesty every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Annual Honesty?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Annual Honesty?
Annual Honesty can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to wild honesty plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Annual Honesty Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Annual Honesty, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Annual Honesty?
Annual Honesty is susceptible to aphids, cabbage worms, flea beetles. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Annual Honesty Need?
Annual Honesty grows outdoors in USDA Zone 5a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 5a. Annual Honesty is native to southern Europe, and cultivated throughout the temperate world.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 5a – 9b
Keep exploring plants
Annual Honesty is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Lunaria genus — compare its care with other Lunaria species on PlantoScan.
Lunaria is part of the Brassicaceae plant family — browse all Brassicaceae genera and species.
Annual Honesty thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Lunaria annua L., family Brassicaceae (first published in Sp. Pl. : 653 (1753)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Annual Honesty, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: AI-generated illustration (labelled on the image).
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 5a – 9b, estimated from the plant's typical growing conditions.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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