Can you grow Dusty Miller in the ground?
This plant seems to thrive in almost any situation and is great both in the ground and in a container. Dusty miller prefers to be grown in full sun but will tolerate part shade. In more shade, the silver look of the leaves will be less intense and the plants will look greener. Dusty miller also likes well-drained soils.
Do Dusty Millers bloom all summer?
Lacy leaves of the dusty miller plant are attractive companions for many blooms in the garden. Dusty miller care is minimal when the plant is established. Although the dusty miller flower blooms in midsummer, the small yellow blooms are small and not considered showy.
Does Dusty Miller look good in pots?
With its striking silver foliage and lacy texture, this plant looks good throughout the whole growing season. Whether you use it as a backdrop for bright and bold flowers or as a statement piece in a container, this beautiful plant lasts and lasts. With its trademark silver foliage, dusty miller looks good in any combination.
Can you grow Dusty Miller in hanging baskets?
Silver ragwort or dusty miller is an ideal plant to grow in containers. The dramatic silvery foliage adds interest and visual appeal to other container plants and flowers. You can also grow dusty miller in hanging baskets along with flowering trailing plants. Growing dusty miller in containers requires a light, porous potting mix.
How do you care for a dusty miller indoors?
The furry leaves allow the plant to hold a lot of water, preparing it for drought. While dusty miller tolerates shade, it performs best in full sun or part shade where it gets at least four hours of sun a day.
Will dusty miller survive winter?
Dusty miller is very forgiving of cold temperatures and requires very little preparation before cold weather sets in. However, gardeners can make a few small adjustments to ensure the plants will survive the winter months and emerge in spring with lush, healthy foliage.
Where is the best place to plant dusty miller?
Growing dusty miller can handle the heat, but is best planted where afternoon shade is available during the hottest months of summer. The dusty miller plant is adaptable to many soil types, thriving in acidic clay to sandy loam soils. The soil must be well-draining to avoid root rot.
Does dusty miller require sun?
Being of Mediterranean origin, dusty miller is heat and drought tolerant and does best in full sun. It will it become leggy when grown in shade. Although it performs best in moist, well-drained, moderately rich soils, it is tolerant of poor soils.
How cold can dusty miller take?
Dusty Miller plants will thrive when grown in temperatures that range from 40-60 degrees (Fahrenheit).
Does dusty miller spread?
Does dusty miller spread? It has a mounded growth habit and can spread up to 2 feet but it does not spread wider than that.
When should I start my indoor dusty miller?
Sowing Dusty Miller Seed Indoors: Sow indoors 4-6 weeks before last expected heavy spring frost. Sow evenly and thinly and cover with ½ inch of seed starting formula. Keep the soil moist at 65-75 degrees F. Seedlings emerge in 10-21 days.
Should dusty miller be cut back?
When performing dusty miller plant care, prune when they become leggy during the growing season. Cut them back to half their size and the plant will quickly fill out again. When growing a dusty miller perennial, cut plants back to 3″ to 4″ inches during early spring as new growth emerges.
What flowers look good with dusty miller?
Last year I planted Dusty Millers with some red blooming begonias in a window box, and the results made for an attractive combination. I also set some Dusty Millers in a flower bed along with bright colored marigolds. They prefer rich humus and well-drained soil with a substantial amount of compost added.
Is dusty miller Evergreen?
This evergreen perennial can grow to a height of 2' but typically only grows to one foot during the first growing season....Scientific name: Senecio cineraria.Bloom:Summer flowersBloom Color:Yellow1 more row
Is dusty miller poisonous to dogs?
Dusty Miller Ingesting this plant can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Furthermore, coming in contact with this plant can cause skin irritations for pets.
How much water does a dusty miller need?
Once established, dusty miller only requires occasional watering. During mild spring and summer weather, you may only have to give about 1” (2.5 cm) of water a week. In hot, arid conditions, you might need to thoroughly water silver dust plants twice a week. However, dusty miller survives well during drought.
What is Dusty Miller good for?
Dusty miller looks fantastic in all kinds of containers, including hanging baskets and window boxes. The finely divided foliage looks so pretty combined with the trailing stems of petunias or million bells, and also makes a handsome companion plant for other sun lovers like zinnias, pentas, or salvia. Keep your container in full sun, and water more frequently than plants growing in the ground, at least every other day in summer.
How to grow silver dust in a container?
Keep your container in full sun, and water more frequently than plants growing in the ground, at least every other day in summer. Pot up silver dust with any commercial potting soil. Make sure your container has drainage holes. Add a handful of peat moss to increase acidity.
What is the difference between silver dust and cirrus?
Some varieties are very lacy and fine, while others are only slightly lobed. 'Cirrus': Broad leaves with scalloping on the edges adorn this variety.
What causes silver dust to rot?
1 Handpick the pests, or use beer traps to control their numbers. In addition to attracting slugs, excessive watering can cause root rot in silver dust plants.
Why do plants need to be watered with silver dust?
Water. The fuzzy growth that gives silver dust its sheen also helps plants stand tall in periods of drought. Like other plants that hail from Mediterranean climates, silver dust can get by with occasional watering once it is established.
What color is silver dust?
Every flower garden needs a foliage foil to act as a contrast for its blooms, and silver dust stands out as a neutral go-to plant for any color scheme. The silvery leaves of silver dust look stunning when paired with cool purple and blue flowers, but also pair well with hot red and orange flowers.
Is silver dust perennial?
Although silver dust is an old-fashioned tender perennial that has been around garden centers for decades, the drought tolerance and pest-free nature of this plant make it worth revisiting for busy gardeners who want to add dazzle without fuss to their landscapes. Silver dust is one of those plants that is full of surprises.
Which Plants Go Best with Dusty Miller?
So, which plants grow well with dusty miller? There are several plants that work well with our silvery friend:
How to Sow and Grow Dusty Miller
You can sow dusty miller directly in your garden or indoors, depending on where you live and what you prefer. Those living in colder climes may want to sow in a greenhouse because the season is more limited.
Techniques for Caring and Nurturing Dusty Miller
Since the plant grows best in hot, dry weather, you don’t need to water it that often. However, it is not a cactus, so it does require moisture to thrive. So, water it regularly, for long enough to saturate the roots.
Pruning Your Dusty Miller to Perfection
Dusty miller is grown for the foliage. Its shiny leaves are what attract our eyes and help keep pests away. However, it does grow flowers once it reaches maturity.
Plant Dusty Miller for Contrast and Protection
Now that you know all about dusty miller, it’s time to take the plunge and plant some in your garden.
How tall does Dusty Miller grow?
The dusty miller flower may be removed to keep the plant compact. This specimen can grow as tall as 1 foot (31 cm.) but often remains shorter. Leave a few flowers to bloom in late summer if you wish the plant to self-seed.
What type of soil does Dusty Miller like?
The dusty miller plant is adaptable to many soil types, thriving in acidic clay to sandy loam soils. The soil must be well-draining to avoid root rot. Water regularly right after planting and withhold water once roots have developed and the plant is growing.
What is a dusty miller plant?
Image by Anika Malone. 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. Dusty miller care is minimal when the plant is established.
Can dusty miller be soaked?
During periods of extreme drought, however, even xeric gardens benefit from an occasional soaking. When growing dusty miller, be sure to plant compatible, colorful companions. The lacy leaves are resistant to deer and are an excellent choice for areas where browsing animals may create problems with other plants in the landscape.
Is Dusty Miller drought resistant?
The 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.
Is Dusty Miller perennial or annual?
The dusty miller plant 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. Growing dusty miller can handle the heat, but is best planted where afternoon shade is available during the hottest months of summer.
Can dusty miller be planted in a container?
Growing dusty miller may effectively be used in borders or as part of an outdoor container planting. Take advantage of growing dusty miller’s drought tolerance and interplant in a xeric garden, away from the water source. The xeriscape garden is an effective way to save water and time.
What is a dusty miller?
Dusty Miller. A timeless garden staple, dusty miller will probably never go out of style. With its striking silver foliage and lacy texture, this plant looks good throughout the whole growing season.
Why is Dusty Miller so popular?
Dusty miller prefers to be grown in full sun but will tolerate part shade. In more shade, the silver look of the leaves will be less intense and the plants will look greener.
Where does the silver look on dusty miller come from?
The silver look of the leaves actually comes from numerous tiny white hairs. These hairs are most prominent on the undersides of the leaves and on the stems. On older plants, the hairs can actually become worn off and you will begin to see the green underneath. A good use for dusty miller is as a cut flower.
Can Dusty Miller be grown in full sun?
Dusty miller prefers to be grown in full sun but will tolerate part shade. In more shade, the silver look of the leaves will be less intense and the plants will look greener. Dusty miller also likes well-drained soils. In too heavy or too wet of soil, there is a much higher risk that root rot will develop.
Is Dusty Miller silver or straight?
Since dusty miller has been around for quite some time, it is surprising that very few varieties are available. The few that have been introduced are generally more silver than the straight species, or they offer more heat tolerance. A few have notably lacier leaves as well. Recent developments by botanists have focused on broader leaf varieties rather than lacy types. Presently, most of this work is being done in Europe, so hopefully soon these new varieties will be making their way across the pond.
Do Dusty Miller plants need maintenance?
As far as regular maintenance goes , these plants don't require a whole lot. Sometimes you may see plants trying to bloom. Dusty miller is really only grown for its foliage, as the flowers are fairly boring—yellow blooms held on long stalks, which many people pinch off.
Can dusty miller be sheared back?
Overall, dusty miller doesn't mind being pinched or sheared back. This will actually help promote new growth and keep the plants lush and bushy. You can cut the plants back to promote a flush of new silver growth late in the season, when plants often become scraggly and leggy.
10 Dusty Miller Companion Plants
For a healthy garden, the Dusty Miller plant can be grown with these 10 companion plants, with the majority being creeping annuals:
Which Zones to Plant Dusty Miller?
This plant thrives in a wide range of temperatures. It is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10 but can be grown as an annual in cooler regions.
Dusty Miller is Deer-Resistant
A great feature of Dusty Miller is that it is remarkably trouble-free. It’s a deer-resistant plant that doesn’t require pesticides or fertilizers.
How Big Does Dusty Miller Grow?
The Dusty Miller grows up to 6 inches in height and 8 inches in width. This shrub is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8, but it likes to be planted in full sun. Their edges are less serrated and create a bolder look. The foliage is softly felt and is the ideal complement to other flowers in the garden.
How Long Does Dusty Miller Live?
It will live for about 10 years. A common pair with the Silverdust is a mounding silver flower. This type grows to about 18 inches in height and is drought resistant.
How to Grow Dusty Miller Plant
The best way to grow the Dusty Miller is from seed or stem cuttings. For best results, plant the seeds outdoors after the last frost. Indoors, it can be sown between 10 and 15 weeks before the last frost.
Dusty Miller Belongs to Daisy Family
This plant belongs to the daisy family and has tiny white flowers that bloom in the summer. This plant can be used as a backdrop for colorful flowers, or as a statement plant in a container. Its distinctive silver foliage will make the surrounding plants pop.
