Honesty seeds

I was given these seeds in a Christmas card and don't know what they are!!!

I have planted them in a little pot, which I have now put outside on the patio. They are doing well - lots of sturdy looking leaves. Does anyone know what they will grow into and how I should look after them?

:cnfs:

 

Hi Butterfield.

The Latin name is Lunaria annua. Sorry to be so pedantic, but if you Google 'honesty' and then Google 'lunaris annua', you will see why knowing the Scientific name can be helpful.

Its a native British wildflower, but lovely and well worth growing. Its native environment is damp woodlands and lime rich soil, but it will thrive virtually anywhere. Its perfectly hardy, so you don't need to take special care. Its a biennial, meaning that it will grow happily this year but won't flower. Then next year it will flower around this time of the year. It will then set seed in those lovely silver oval seed pods you must recognise, and afterwards die. You can either collect the seeds and grow them again, or with luck the plant will seed itself.

Try Googling the latin name and you will find sites like this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunaria_annua




The flowers are above and the seed pods below.

It has a very garden-worthy relative Hesperis matronalis, another biennial which has a similar flower, but different shaped seed pod.

 

Brilliant, thanks ever so much. It looks lovely - great photo, do you have it in your garden too?

 

Thanks for your comments Butterfield. As you might have gathered both photos were found on the internet. No I don't grow Honesty in my garden, but I do grow Hesperis matronalis (sweet rocket), which is very similar. I grow it as a biennial, ie I sowed it a year ago and kept it in pots, in an out of the way area, then when space was available last autumn I planted it out. You don't have to grow bienniels in an out of the way area, I only do it because I want the space in the border for things like Dahlias.



This was taken a couple of days ago. The Hesperis is the pale purple one at the back. Then there are dark purple and red Lupins, which I also treat as a bienniel. The red in Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber), which is another native wild flower, and the pale pink are Poppies.

 

It's worth noting that there are also has white flowered and variegated varieties of Honesty and a perennial species which has oval rather than round seed pods

 

Thanks Lovage - thats interesting to know.

 

As usual Peter your garden is looking beautiful.

I have grown "Honesty" this year with some seed from a parcel, only 2 germinated and were good healthy plants ,I have put them into where I permanently want them ,but I must go out and have a look as in this dry weather a lot of the seedlings are struggling.

 

Thanks Pamsdish. I love Honesty and Hesperis, as they flower early when there isn't much colour about. Mine is a late garden being on cold clay, so there are any number of things in flower in September but a shortage earlier in the year.

 

Gorgeous border you have there PeterS. I mean that sincerely.
I have some Lupins which have come up purple, and I was very disappointed with them, but looking at your border I might work them into the scheme.

As for honesty, I don't have any in this garden, but did have them in my last garden.
I intend to grow some here as i think they earn their space.
A neighboring garden here has honesty. It comes fine and early and looks great. In fact it has escaped its confines and grows out from the bottom of the hedge onto the pavement. It looks great. I'll plant some at the bottom of my hedge and hope it does the same.

 

Thanks Alice.

 

Now why is it that my beautifully pinky/mauvy bed hasn't turned out like this.

My dad gave me white delphiniums, which now in flower have come out blue! He gave me some pyrethrum, all shades of pink he said, and they've come out red! I grew white lobelia from seed, half of that is blue! And, most annoying of all, the beautiful white lupin which last year was stunning, has this year flowered red!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Beautiful flowerbed there.

My Honesty are huge - some are my height, and I'm, 5"8!

 

Lovely photos everyone!