Lunaria rediviva aka Perennial Honesty

Lunaria rediviva comes from Europe. Its common name is perennial honesty. It is a herbaceous perennial: a soft-stemmed plant that lives for years. It belongs to Brassicaceae, the cabbage family. It grows in temperate climates. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Gardeners prize its scented flowers and bold seedheads. Both add value to borders and cutting gardens.

This bushy plant grows about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] tall. It spreads 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres] wide. The RHS reports plants in bloom around 3 feet [0.9 metres] tall. Plants reach full size in two to five years. The leaves have toothed edges. Their shape blends a triangle with a heart. The leaves are deciduous, so they do not stay green year-round.

Loose groups of flowers, called panicles, form in spring and early summer. Missouri Botanical Garden lists May to June for bloom. The sweet-scented flowers range from pale lilac to lilac-white. Each bloom spans about 1 inch [2.5 centimetres]. Elliptical, or oval, seedheads form once the flowers fade. They add a second season of interest. Light passes through the pods, which suit dried flower displays. The blooms suit cutting, too. The fruits add interest in the garden.

Grow this plant in rich soil that stays moist but drains well. Give it full sun or part shade. The RHS lists chalk, loam and sand as suitable soils. It accepts acid, neutral and alkaline soil. Missouri Botanical Garden rates its water needs as medium. The RHS gives it a cold hardiness rating of H7. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA zones 4–8. These ratings support its use where winters are cold. Sow seed in spring. You can also split well-grown plants in spring.

Use it in borders, open woods or shade gardens. It suits naturalized sites, where plants grow in a wild style. It also fits loose cottage planting. The RHS lists courtyard and coastal gardens as suitable sites. Missouri Botanical Garden rates its care needs as low. It does not, as a rule, report grave insect or disease problems. The RHS says the plant is mostly free of pests. Still, leaf spot and stem canker may occur. The RHS also lists club root and white blister as risks. Viral disease is another possible problem. The supplied sources give no clear guidance on food use or toxicity.