Note from the Author: This is an update on a weed I briefly covered on January 25th 2019, June 14th 2019 and, January 11th 2020.
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This image of the Tuberous roots of Silver Dollar Plant, comes from the wikipedia page for the plant. |
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This specimen has appeared behind my compost bins, I'm not to upset about this. |
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Take a look at that foliage! |
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A close up of the four-petal flowers. |
Common Name: Silver Dollar Plant
Other Common Names: Canada Lettuce, Canada Wild Lettuce, Wild Lettuce.
Botanical Family: Brassicaceae (The Cabbage Family)
Botanical Latin Name: Lunnaria annua
Description & Habitat: Silver Dollar Plant is typically found in or near former gardens where it has escaped cultivation and while not considered to be invasive it is a non-native introduced herbaceous biennial. The best way to identify this plant is by the flowers in the second year which have the standard four petals common to cabbage family members. The flowers can be purple, lavender, pink or white, though typical plants grown from purchased seed tend to be some shade of purple. The leaves on the flower stalks of this plant are clasping but overall are heart shaped. Leaves lower on the plant are heart shaped but will have a petiole of varying length. All leaves will have a toothed margin though younger first-year plants may have less pronounced teeth in their leaf margins. This plant will produce swollen roots to allow it to survive for more than one year, and all parts of the plant above ground with exception to the flowers are fuzzy. In some publications this plant may be listed as (Lunaria biennis).
When & What to Harvest: In the first year you can harvest the root or the foliage, in the second year the unripe green seed pods, some of the leaves are safe to harvest for food. The fired seedpods can be harvested in the second year for decorations.
Edible Related Plants: Aside from known members of the cabbage family, Black Mustard (Brassica nigra), Wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris), Upland Cress (B. verna), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Swine Cress (Cardamine hirsuta).
Similar Dangerous Species: None are known.
Recipe:
I have not been able to find a specific recipe for this plant for you, but I have used it as an added wild green in my soups or added the foliage in with normal mustard greens to add more kick.
Additional Information: (If applicable)
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/lunaria-annua/
Where to get seed or Bare Root Plants:
https://www.botanicalinterests.com/products/honesty-money-plant-seeds?_pos=2&_sid=d45b35172&_ss=r
With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but my booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog. In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said; if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.
For those of you wondering what plants are going to be at the market this weekend here is the list.
Spring Garden Plants:
Swiss Chard, Red
Tomato, Lemon Boy
Tomato, Sungold
Tomato, Yellow Cherry
Tomato, Midnight Snack
Tomato, Cherokee Purple
Pepper, Shishito
Pepper, Ghost
Sorrel, Raspberry Dressing
Mustard, Mizuna
(More TBA!)
Soil Amendment Products:
Carolina Gold, Live Mushroom Compost – 18 Gallon Tote*
Carolina Gold, Live Mushroom Compost – 3 Gallon Bag
Carolina Gold, Live Mushroom Compost – 1 Gallon Bag
Carolina Gold, Enhanced Potting Soil – 1 Gallon Bag
*The 18 gallon tote is by special order only and is delivered to any address within the Fayetteville city area.
How to stay in Contact with Us!
All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.
Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville
Also please take a gander at the YouTube version of this blog:
The Videos: Look Here
>Newest videos (1): All about the Harvest!
Meetings are still going on! Our next (unofficial) meeting is April 5th at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Franklin Street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.