Dusty Miller

Senecio cineraria

Characteristics

Culture

The dusty miller plant (Senecio cineraria) is an interesting landscape addition, grown for its silvery gray foliage. Lacy leaves of the dusty miller plant are attractive companions for many blooms in the garden.  Care is minimal when the plant is established.  Although the dusty miller flower blooms in mid-summer, the small yellow blooms are small and not considered showy. Foliage of the dusty miller plant, however, is long lasting and drought resistant. As with most silvery, furry plants, growing dusty miller helps the garden remain attractive through the heat of the summer. It will also tolerate frost.  Tender perennial that is winter hardy to USDA Zones 7-10. Easily grown in average, evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Tolerates full shade, but foliage color is best with some sun. Gardeners usually remove flower buds as they appear. Shear plants back if they become leggy.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Senecio cineraria, commonly called dusty miller, is a popular foliage plant grown for its cool, silvery, woolly-felted leaves which provide excellent contrast to beds, borders and containers. In frost-free areas, it becomes shrubby over time, typically growing to 1-2’ tall.  Felted, silver-gray leaves (to 6” long) are pinnately cut into irregular oblong segments. Foliage is attractive throughout the growing season, often lasting well past the first frost in fall. Small, daisy-like, cream to yellow flowers usually do not appear in the first year. Flowers are insignificant and generally detract from the foliage effect. Many of the cultivars rarely produce flowers.  It is often grown as an annual and discarded after the first season; however, it is an herbaceous perennial and may return in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 to 10.

Genus name comes from the Latin word senex meaning an old man from the hoary pappus of these plants. Specific epithet means ash-colored. 

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to rust.

Garden Uses

Beds or mixed borders. Edgings. Containers.