Honesty is a
non-native
annual plant of the UK, typically found growing in urban areas, hedgerows and waste ground, to a mature height of up to 100cm.
The name Honesty is thought to be an allusion to 'transparency' and named after the plant's transluscent round seed capsules, which are often used in dried flower displays. Honesty is a native plant of Italy and the Balkans, and was introduced as a garden plant into the UK by the sixteenth century, being found in the wild as an 'escape'.
Botanic classification and naming: Honesty is a member of the Cabbage (Brassicaceae) family. The genus name
'Lunaria' identifies the plant as a Honesty and its species name 'annua' means 'annual plant'.
Benefits: Honesty is pollinated by bees, butterflies, moths and flies. The Orange-Tip Butterfly lays its eggs on the plant. Honesty attracts insect-eating birds.
Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.
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