Rich with Money Plant

Back in the 60s, Mother always had money plant growing in her flowerbed.  As the foliage started growing, I remember telling her it looked like a weed.  Thank heavens I didn't pull it up. 
 
Money plant, Lunaria annua, has many common names.  One of the more popular is Silver Dollar plant.  Once the seed pods have dried and both sides of the husk have been removed, you find a beautiful translucent center about the size of a silver dollar.  Because of its luminosity, it has been used by many interior decorators in homes throughout the world.    
 
It is a biennial plant, meaning that it takes two years to complete its life cycle. Mine do not produce seed pods the first year, but the second year I am blessed with multiple pods. Each seed pod holds three to six seeds, giving you plenty to share and replant.
 
As you can see in the photos, I have both white and purple money plant.  Where the purple came from, I do not know… maybe from the birds or wind.  Jenny Broadnax gave me a handful of her coveted "white" seeds eleven years ago and those are the only ones I have cultivated at this house.  Purple blooming money plant is prevalent but the white variety is harder to find. 
 
Once the plant has turned brown, husks can be removed by gently rubbing your thumb and index finger on either side of the pod.  Be careful not to tear the rice paper thin silver dollar.  There is something addicting about harvesting money plant seeds.  I will sit for hours gently peeling the outer coverings off each little pod. 
 
I usually plant right after harvesting the seeds.  When planting these seeds, I normally just scatter them on the ground and let nature take its course.  Sometimes I put a very light coating of potting soil or pine straw on top of the seeds so the wind will not blow them away.   
 
I will be sharing seeds this year with two fellow Patch columnists…Steve Pettis, Oconee Patch's gardening columnist and my dear neighbor Meg Dure, who writes Athens Patch's column. Meg was so kind to give me some of her Hyacinth Bean vine pods last year.  She ordered these from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.  You can see a photo of her beautiful Hyacinth Bean with purple seed pods.  I guarded these seed pods all winter so no one would accidentally throw them away.    
 
With this year's bountiful crop of money plant, I have enough seeds to share with some of you.  The first 5 people who request seeds in the comment section below will be the recipients. It will be another month or so before the seeds are ready to harvest.  Beware…early harvesting will hinder germination.   

Just remember, next spring the foliage will look like a weed, so don't pull it up.