Growing up, I loved visits to local garden centers with my mother. We’d wander around, happily choosing plants, and I always took notice of the frosty white plants with leaves that looked like snowflakes: dusty miller! This trusty plant is a mainstay of gardens, grown chiefly for its silvery-white, fuzzy foliage. Does this charming plant belong in your garden, too? The answer is probably yes.
About Dusty Miller
Dusty miller (Jacobaea maritima, formerly known as Senecio cineraria and commonly confused with the very similar but different Centaurea cineraria) is grown mainly for its unique foliage, which adds wonderful textures and dimension to your garden beds or landscaping. Dusty miller’s leaves almost look as if they’re permanently frosted, showcasing just a hint of the green coloring below. See other silvery foliage plants.
Is Dusty Miller a Perennial or Annual?
This foliage plant is considered a tender perennial, winter-hardy in zones 7 to 10. This means dusty miller is usually treated as an annual in cooler zones. That said, there are many reports and anecdotal evidence that the plant occasionally overwinters in other zones, according to the NC State University Extension. Perhaps we should call it a half-hardy perennial.
Dusty miller is known by a few alternative names, including silver ragwort or silver dust. Some varieties of dusty miller have very decorative leaves that look almost crocheted, while others have leaves that are more rounded. The leaves of some varieties are even reminiscent of oak leaves. Some types of dusty miller are more compact and uniform, suitable for landscaping purposes, while others are taller and less tidy.
Even as an annual, dusty miller is an excellent choice in garden beds; it’s drought-resistant and deer-resistant, lasting through summer heat to keep the garden attractive. The plant generally reaches 16 to 24 inches in height and typically stays smaller if grown in a container. Be aware that dusty miller is toxic to pets and people.
Dusty Miller as a Companion Plant
With its striking silvery-gray foliage, dusty miller nicely sets off colorful flowers. It pairs well with other cool-season plants such as pansies, colorful dianthus, and sweet alyssum.
In addition, dusty miller is drought-tolerant, so it works well with other flowers that grow well in dry climates, including pink lantana, salvia, gomphrena, Purple Heart, heliotrope, and yarrow.
Interestingly, the silver color of the foliage comes from trichomes, waxy tiny hairs that serve several protective roles! Trichromes reflect heat and provide UV protection in high altitudes or places with strong sunlight or heat. Their hairs also trap moisture and help reduce water loss. In addition, insect pests find walking on the waxy hair difficult.
Dusty miller is a fantastic edging plant and pairs well with bright flowers. Credit: Xenia Denisova
Dusty miller does best in full sun, and it prefers moist, well-drained soil that leans on the acidic side. While dusty miller can grow in partial shade, the leaf color may not be as bright.
While you can direct sow dusty miller seeds directly into your garden soil, this usually isn’t recommended. It’s better to start them indoors or purchase seedlings.
How to Plant
If starting seeds indoors, you’ll want to place your seeds on the top of the soil. You can lightly press the seeds to ensure contact with the growing medium but don’t cover the seeds with soil, as they benefit from light when germinating.
When transplanting seedlings into the garden, space them about 12 inches apart.
It’s also possible to propagate dusty miller from stem cuttings if desired. This can be an option if you already have an established plant.
Most people just purchase plants rather than grow from seed, as dusty miller plants are widely available at garden centers.
Growing
How to Care for Dusty Miller
One of the reasons dusty miller has such enduring popularity is because it is fairly low-maintenance and isn’t finicky. Some tips for optimizing your success with dusty miller:
Dusty miller is happiest in moist, well-drained soil, although it’s also surprisingly heat and drought tolerant.
The plants produce yellow flowers that are somewhat nondescript and aren’t especially showy. It’s all about the foliage when growing dusty miller.
You may want to keep your dusty miller trimmed so it doesn’t put unnecessary energy into producing flowers. Instead, you want it to concentrate on producing its iconic foliage.
Prune away diseased or damage leaves and stems as necessary throughout the growing season.
Many garden plants thrive in soil with neutral acidity, but dusty miller actually prefers acidic soil with a pH of 6 or less. You may need to adjust your soil pH to suit dusty miller.
Dusty miller is a wonderful container plant, perfect for the porch, walkway, or patio. You can even keep it indoors as long as it receives the required 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day. Containers can be especially nice if you want to showcase the silvery foliage (which, of course, you do!).
Make it a point to step outside one night to look at dusty miller by moonlight … the silver leaves reflect the light. Amazing!
Dusty miller produces small yellow flowers. Some gardeners opt to trim before the plant blooms in order to focus on the plant’s foliage. Credit: YellowCat
Types
‘Silverdust’ or ‘Silver Dust’ is a traditional, commonly seen variety.
‘Silver Queen’ is compact and attractive.
‘Cirrus’ has rounded leaves without the deep lobes seen on other dusty miller cultivars.
Not all cultivars of dusty miller exhibit the deeply lobed leaves. Credit: Benzstock
Harvesting
While dusty miller is primarily used for garden borders and landscaping, it has some other uses as well. (Remember, it is toxic to humans and pets.)
Dusty miller makes a terrific addition to cut flower arrangements. It can serve as a unique backdrop and neutral palette for a display of colorful blooms.
When used as a fresh cutting in a vase, you may have best results if you harvest mature dusty miller. At the end of the growing seasons, the stems become more rigid.
You can also harvest dusty miller to preserve it by drying. Simply hang cut sprigs in a dark area for a couple of weeks.
Another creative use is to press individual dusty miller leaves. The shape and texture of the leaves make them excellent candidates for this purpose!
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Wit and Wisdom
“Dusty Miller” was the name of a cat in the 1936 novel Anne of Windy Poplars by L. M. Montgomery.
It’s possible the name of the plant relates to the traditional work of milling grain (hence, a “dusty miller”), as the plant also has a dusty appearance.
There is a traditional bluegrass song called Dusty Miller.
Dusty miller is a member of the Asteraceae family—the same plant family as daisies.
Dusty miller isn’t native to North America, it originally came from the Mediterranean region.
Pests/Diseases
Dusty miller doesn’t suffer from many issues with pests or diseases, but here are a few things you can watch for.
Root rot is probably the most common issue seen with dusty miller. The plant typically prefers well-drained soil, so avoid clay soil or low areas in the garden where water may pool.
Samantha Johnson is an award-winning author and gardening expert with over 20 years of experience cultivating heirloom vegetables and sharing her passion for rural living. Read More from Samantha Johnson