Fundamental Facts
HARDINESS: Frost tolerant; hardy to Zone 9
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Adaptable
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Any well-drained soil
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun
ATTRIBUTES: Felt-textured silver leaves that are rounded or lacy; for edging or pots.
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring to fall in cold-winter regions; all year in warm-winter climates.
FAVORITES: 'Cirrus' for rain tolerance; 'Silverdust' for compact growth habit.
QUIRKS: Humid weather induces stem rot; heavy rain can remove silver leaf coating.
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Browallia, campanula, geranium, pansy, poppy
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Well-drained soil; full sun
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Aphids
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Good
SOURCE: Bedding plants, seeds
DIMENSIONS: 12-18 in (30.5-45.7 cm) tall, and 12 in (30.5 cm) wide
Dusty Miller in the Landscape
Not every plant was meant to be a star. Instead, some plants are used to make their showier neighbors look good, and playing the supporting role is the job at which dusty miller excels. The outstanding feature of this plant is its luminous silver, felt-textured leaves, which look as if they are covered with dust. In the sunshine, where dusty miller grows best, the silvery leaves shimmer and accent any plant that is growing around them, especially bedfellows with blue, pink, and yellow flowers, such as chrysanthemums, browallia, dianthus, and pansies. Because of its light-reflecting qualities, dusty miller works its magic wherever it is planted.
Dusty miller illuminates the garden without requiring exacting care. Standing only 12-18 in (30.5-45".7 cm) tall, the plants require no pruning and rarely need grooming except to remove aged, browning leaves. Dusty miller withstands drought without wilting and multiplies without encouragement.
Growing Dusty Miller
Except for occasional visits by pear-shaped, sap-sucking aphids, almost nothing bothers dusty miller. And you can easily dispatch these pests by spraying plants with insecticidal soap on an overcast day, so the leaves don't burn. Native to die Mediterranean, dusty miller laughs at sparse rainfall. As a veteran of window boxes and urns, it tolerates dry conditions without a problem.
However, persistent high humidity or torrential rain can cause the stems to rot or can wash the feltlike texture from the leaves, revealing the green beneath. Growing them in a well-drained, sandy soil is helpful in maintaining healthy plants in damp climates, and it's wise to position containers away from overhead drips. 'Cirrus' is a dwarf variety developed to resist rain damage. 'Silverdust' remains especially compact, rarely topping 12 in (30.5 cm) in height, making it a good choice for combining with other plants in containers and small beds.
Dusty miller can endure heavy frosts. From Zones 7 to 9 it grows throughout the year and is often featured alongside pansies in winter gardens. In its first year, dusty miller is a handsome foliage plant, but in its second spring it will often send up flowers. The tiny yellow flowers aren't exciting and they obscure the handsome leaves, so they can be removed as soon as they appear.
Increasing the Bounty
Dusty miller is easily grown from seed. Sow seeds indoors in February in a moist, sandy, well-drained soil. Do not cover the seeds, because light is necessary for germination. Keep the containers in a location with temperatures between 65° and 70°F (18° and 21 °C).Transplant the seedlings when their first set of mature, felted leaves appears, or set out bedding plants at the time of your last spring frost.
You can also take cuttings of dusty miller, severing 3 in (7.6 cm) long stems from the mother plant. The feltlike covering on the stems inhibits root formation, so gently scrape the felt off the lower inch of the cutting with a sharp knife. Bury the scraped part of the stem in sandy potting soil, making sure to firm the soil around the stem. Moisten the soil around the cuttings when you first insert them, but don't water again until the soil is dry. They should make roots and be ready to transplant into the garden in 3 to 4 weeks.
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