Lunaria annua, L. biennis
Honesty
Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Lunaria annua, L. biennis.
Common names
3 names · 3 languages- EnglishYour language
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- Honesty
Other languages (2)
- Dutch
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- Judaspenning
- French
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- Monnaie du pape
Sources & name notes
Names recorded in our plant catalogue, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.
General information
Plant characteristics
Growing conditions
Moist
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Partial shade, Full sun
Uses
Condiment, Root, Seed
Bee forage
Description
Cooked seeds have a sharp taste and can be used as an alternative to mustard. The sharp taste of mustard occurs when cold water is added to the ground seeds, causing an enzyme (myrosin) to react with a glycoside (sinigrin) to produce a sulfur compound. This reaction usually takes 10-15 minutes. If the seeds are mixed with hot water or vinegar, or if salt is added, the enzyme is inhibited, resulting in a mild bitter mustard. Carrots can be eaten raw, and it is advisable to use them before the plant produces flowers.
Harvest
Sources and references
References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
Supports: Botanical family
Relevant sections
- Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 47844; name ID 2338471; Lunaria Tourn. ex L.. Family column.
Source checked on .
Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Lunaria annua L.
Supports: Taxonomy
Relevant sections
- Taxonomy: Name heading and taxonomic status; Kew accepts Lunaria annua and lists Lunaria biennis Moench as its synonym. Both catalogue names therefore refer to the same annual-honesty species.
Source checked on .
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Lunaria biennis Moench
Supports: Taxonomy
Relevant sections
- Taxonomy: Taxonomic synonyms or horticultural name section. Kew accepts Lunaria annua and lists Lunaria biennis Moench as its synonym. Both catalogue names therefore refer to the same annual-honesty species.
Source checked on .