The latin Lunaria in derived from luna meaning the moon. Referring to the rounded or elliptic seed capsules with a silvery sheen. These persist long after the seeds have fallen from them and are very sought after by flower arrangers. The common name honesty may come from the fact you can see the seeds through the translucent seed capsules. In other countries they are called Chinese coins, Pope's money, silver dollars. In late spring to summer, 4-petalled white or pink flowers emerge.
The two honesty species are both, as with most members of the cabbage family, very important for pollinating insects, such as bees and butterflies, together with smaller fry like pollen-beetles which may be small, but they are often numerous, and so are easy pickings for a passing wren or blue tit. Lunaria annua is renowned as one of the main food-plants for larval orange-tip butterflies; the jury is out whether the perennial L. rediviva plays a similar role - so why not try it and find out?