Dusty Miller

Tender perennial that is winter hardy to USDA Zones 7-10. Inother zones, it is grown as an annual. Start seed indoors 10-15 weeks before last frost date. Starter plants are generally available for purchase in cell/six packs from a variety of retail outlets. Set seedlings/starter plants out at last frost date. 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. Cuttings may be taken in fall for overwintering, but most gardeners simply repurchase new plants in spring. 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. In zone 5 or colder, it usually grows in a rounded clump to 6-15” 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.