Money Plant

June 1, 2016

We moved to Arkansas from Missouri.  We had a plant my grandmother called "the money plant."  It was a perennial.  Since I moved here to, I have tried to find a plant or seeds again.  I go through every display of flower seeds in every store, especially in the spring.  I have looked through seed catalogues and magazines to no avail. Could you give me some advice as to where I might find them?  They made such a beautiful dried arrangement for the living room or entry foyer.   Perhaps you know of a seed catalog that has some of the older standbys, or where I might get a plant.

Money plant or Lunaria biennis or L. annua, is actually a biennial, and should be available as a seed packet.  Parks, Burpees, and Heirloom Seeds all sell seed packets. Although it is too late for this year, local county Master Gardener plant sales are a great place to buy some plants.  If you can find a gardener who has some now they are usually more than willing to share, since the plant is a prolific reseeder.  The plant grows foliage the first season, blooms with lovely purple blooms the second season and then dies back after producing the round papery seed pods.  To perennially have money plant in bloom, plant seeds in the spring and fall.  It does best in a partially shaded area, as it doesn't like afternoon sun.

June 2005

We moved to Hot Springs Village from the Chicago area in 1998. When we were "up north" we had a plant my grandmother (from Missouri) called "the money plant." It was a perennial. Since I moved here to beautiful Arkansas, I have searched high and low to find the seeds again. I go through every display of flower seeds in every store, especially in the spring. I have looked through seed catalogues and magazines to no avail. Could you give me some advice as to where I might find them? They made such a beautiful dried arrangement for the living room or entry foyer. Perhaps you know of a seed catalog that has some of the older standbys (which I favor because of the lovely memories of my family members and my childhood).

Money plant or Lunaria biennis or L. annua, is actually a biennial, and should be available as a seed packet. Parks, Burpees, and Heirloom Seeds all sell seed packets. If you can find a gardener who has some, they are usually more than willing to share, since it is a prolific reseeder. The plant grows foliage year one, blooms year two then dies back after producing the round papery seed pods. To perennially have money plant in bloom, plant seeds in the spring and fall. It does best in a partially shaded area, as it doesn't like afternoon sun.

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