Botanical Name: Senecio cineraria
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Common Name: Dusty Miller Shrub  
Plant photo of: Senecio cineraria
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Water Saving Tip:

Fix leaking sprinklers, valves, and pipes.

One broken spray sprinkler can waste 10 gallons per minute - or 100 gallons in a typical 10 minute watering cycle.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Perennial, Annual

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Yellow

 

Flower Season

Summer, Fall

 

Leaf Color

Grey, Silver

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low, Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

English Cottage, Mediterranean, Spanish

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers, Unusual Foliage

 

Seasonal Interest

Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Entry, Perennial Border, Patio, Raised Planter

 

Special Uses

Container, Cut Flowers

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: Steve Mullany
  • Description

  • Notes

There are several plants commonly called dusty miller, and this is one of them. Velvety gray to silver leaves have broad, roundish lobes, but may also be irregularly cut and feathery. Dusty miller is a popular foliage plant grown for its cool, silvery, woolly-felted leaves which provide excellent contrast to brighter summer flowers. 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 some just cut them off. Many of the cultivars rarely produce flowers. Use foliage for cut flower arrangements. Grows about 12 to 18 inches tall and wide.
Dusty Miller is a tender perennial that is winter hardy to USDA Zones 7-10. It is not cold hardy, and yet, it sometimes overwinters. Set seedlings/starter plants out at last frost date. Grow in average, 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.