Damask-violet (Lunaria annua, Sp. Pl.: 653 (1753))

Family: Brassicaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 653 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Lunaria

Vegetable: False

Observations: SC. & S. Europe

Description

Damask-violet

The Damask-violet, scientifically known as Lunaria annua, is an enchanting plant that has graced the landscapes of Southern and Central Europe for centuries. Originally classified and described by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work “Species Plantarum” published in 1753, this plant has since captured the fascination of gardeners and plant enthusiasts alike.

Belonging to the Brassicaceae family, the Damask-violet is renowned for its striking appearance. It typically blooms with vibrant violet flowers which are not only a visual delight but also emit a delicate fragrance, enhancing the allure of gardens during its flowering season. One of the most appealing features of Lunaria annua is its seed pods, which, when dried, turn into translucent, silvery discs that resemble coins, hence earning the plant its other common name, “Honesty.”

This biennial plant thrives in a variety of conditions and is relatively easy to cultivate, making it a popular choice for ornamental gardening. It is well-suited for temperate climates and prefers well-drained soil with adequate sunlight, although it can also tolerate partial shade.

Damask-violet is not just admired for its beauty; it also plays a role in traditional herbal medicine, although such uses are less common today. Its historical and botanical significance, combined with its aesthetic appeal, ensures that Lunaria annua will continue to be a cherished plant in gardens and landscapes around the world.

Common Names

Eng: annual honesty, honesty, moneyplant, money plant, penny flower, satin flower, silver-dollar
Lit: darželinė blizgė
Deu: einjähriges silberblatt, einjähriges-silberblatt, garten-mondviole, garten-silberblatt, judas-silberling, judassilberling, mondviole, silberling, zweijaehrige mondviole
Dan: håret skjordbregne, judaspenge, krumfinnet skjordbregne
Swe: höbräken, skuggbräken, taggbräken, uddbräken, judaspenningar, kesäkuuruoho, judas silverpenningar, månviol, vanlig månviol
Nld: judaspenning, tuinjudaspenning
Fra: lunaire annuelle, monnaie-du-pape, monnaie du pape, monnoyère, lunaire bisannuelle, monnayère
Pol: miesiącznica roczna
Spa: flor de la papa, hierba de la plata
Nno: judaspengar
Nob: judaspenger
Fin: kesäkuuruoho
Ces: mesa, měsí
Cym: arian parod, sbectol hen wr, swllt dyn tlawd
En: Damask-violet, Dame’s rocket, Dame’s-violet, Sweet rocket, Dames rocket, Mother-of-the-Evening, Dame rocket, Dames violet, Dame’s Violet, Dammask Violet, Garden Rocket
Ar: بنفسج السيدة
Az: Gecə bənövşəsi gecəgülü
Bg: Вечерница
Ca: Juliana vera
Zh: 欧亚香花芥
Cs: Večernice vonná
Da: Aftenstjerne, Hvid julerose, Jomfru i det grønne, Storblomstret julerose, Vellugtende aftenstjerne
Nl: Damastbloem, Damasbloem
Et: Harilik öölill
Fi: Tarhaillakko
Fr: Arragone, Julienne des dames
De: Nachtviole, Gewöhnliche Nachtviole, Garten-Nachtviole, Frauenviole, Matronenblume
Hu: Hölgyestike
Is: Næturfjóla
It: Esperide, Violaciocca antoniana
Lv: Smaržīg
Lt: Vakarutė, Kvapioji vakarutė
Se: Hesperis
No: Dagfiol
Fa: هسپریس بانوان
Pl: Wieczornik damski
Pt: Juliana
Ru: Nocnaâ fialka
Sk: Večernica voňavá
Es: Matronal, Juliana
Sv: Hesperis, Julros, Jungfrun i det gröna, Orientalisk julros, Åkerriddarsporre, Aftonviol, Trädgårdsnattviol
Cy: Croes yr hwyr, Dis, Disawr
: Annual honesty

Synonyms

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• France (native)
• Greece (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Romania (native)
• Spain (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Baltic States (introduced)
• Belarus (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Corse (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Hungary (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Ireland (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Manitoba (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Aug 5, 2018 by Darcy Winds (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 14, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 13, 2018 by Rohweder Karsten (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 18, 2018 by nick (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 27, 2017 by Maximilien Perrin (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jul 14, 2021 by Renaud Brochiero (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 19, 2022 by Kraken Pan (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 13, 2018 by Rohweder Karsten (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 14, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 14, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jun 10, 2021 by Reynold Chollet (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 23, 2021 by soffie (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 29, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 19, 2022 by Kraken Pan (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken May 13, 2021 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 30, 2003 by EOL − Steven J. Baskauf (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken May 12, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 7, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Fabienne PAIRE (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 22, 2019 by Pour Demos (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Other

Taken May 23, 2021 by Vanessa Botton (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 24, 2020 by mohammad fazel dehkordi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 13, 2019 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 19, 2021 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 23, 2021 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jun 12, 2022 by Alexander Baransky (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 4, 2022 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 1, 2022 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 14, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 19, 2021 by Terje Norli (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5373324)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:286647-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Hesperis matronalis L.)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3042291)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 6.5

Ph minimum: 5.5

Light: 5

Atmospheric humidity: 6

Bloom months: [‘apr’, ‘may’, ‘jun’]

Soil nutriments: 7