Every garden needs a foliage foil to act as a contrast for its blooms, and dusty miller stands out as a neutral go-to plant for any colour scheme . The silvery leaves of dusty miller look stunning when paired with cool purple and blue flowers, but also pair well with hot red and orange flowers. Even white flowers enjoy the glow of dusty miller in moon gardens. Although dusty miller is an old-fashioned tender perennial that has been around garden centers for many years , the drought tolerance and pest-free nature of this plant make it worth rev

isiting for busy gardeners who want to feature dazzle without fuss to their landscapes.

How to Grow Dusty Miller

Dusty miller is one among those plants that’s filled with surprises. one among its surprises is that it sometimes survives the winter in zones colder than it’s hardy in. Gardeners report plants returning in zone 5 or maybe zone 4 landscapes. Another surprise is that the yellow flowers that sometimes make an appearance within the second season of dusty miller. Dusty miller isn’t marketed as a blooming plant, and while not all plants will produce the yellow fuzzy flowers, they increase the sweetness of mature plants. What a bonus on an already lovely plant.

Light

Dusty miller needs full sun to remain compact and keep their fabulous foliage color. Plants growing in shade are leggy and produce fewer of the hairs that give them their silvery color.

Soil

Dusty miller plants adapt to a spread of soils, but good drainage is vital for healthy plants. Whether your soil is on the rocky side or is characterized by clay, you’ll improve both your pH and drainage by amending it with compost.

Water

The fuzzy growth that provides dusty miller its sheen also helps plants stand tall in periods of drought. Like other plants that hail from Mediterranean climates, dusty miller can get by with occasional watering once it’s established. A layer of organic mulch will make plants even less hooked in to supplemental irrigation. One inch of water per week is enough to stay dusty miller growing strong.

Temperature and Humidity

As a Mediterranean plant, dusty miller thrives in hot, sunny climates. Excessive humidity isn’t a drag as long as plants have adequate spacing and an edge fully sun.

Fertilizer

Dusty miller plants are light feeders, and only need supplemental fertilizers in areas with very poor soil. during this case, it’s better to feed and improve the soil at an equivalent time by adding organic matter like well-rotted manure or leaf mould .

Potting and Repotting

Pot up dusty miller with any commercial potting soil. confirm your container has drainage holes. Add a couple of sphagnum to extend acidity. A layer of mulch on the soil will retain water and keep soil from splashing onto the leaves. It’s time to repot once you see roots beginning of the drainage hole.

Propagating Dusty Miller

You can propagate dusty miller by cuttings within the spring, when plants are putting out the foremost rapid new growth. stop a 6-inch stem, and strip the leaves from the bottom . Dip in rooting hormone, and insert into moist potting soil. Keep moist and warm until new leaves begin to grow, then transplant as desired.

Varieties of Dusty Miller

The difference between dusty miller cultivars are often seen in how dissected the foliage is. Some varieties are very lacy and fine, while others are only slightly lobed. ‘Cirrus’ has broad leaves with scalloping on the sides . ‘Silverado’ has the fern-like foliage popular in many gardens. ‘Silver Lace’ has very fine foliage, because the name implies.

Pruning

Dusty miller plants require no pruning to take care of their pleasing bushy shape. If you are feeling that the yellow blooms detract from the plants, shear them off as they seem .

Being Grown in Containers

Dusty miller looks fantastic altogether sorts 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 make a handsome companion plant for other sun lovers like zinnias, pentas, or salvia. Keep your container fully sun, and water more frequently than plants growing within the ground, a minimum of every other day in summer.

Growing from Seeds

Fill your garden beds with dusty miller by starting a flat of seeds six weeks before the last frost. Cover seeds lightly with sterile potting mix, and grow at 70 F. you’ll start to ascertain germination in about 10 days. Plant outdoors 8 inches apart in pots, or 10 inches apart within the ground.

Common Pests/Diseases

Slugs enjoy snacking on dusty miller plants, especially in flowerbeds that receive frequent irrigation. Handpick the pests, or use beer traps to regulate their numbers. additionally to attracting slugs, excessive watering pot cause plant disease in dusty miller plants. this is often more of a drag in clay soils, but you’ll prevent it by growing your dusty miller plants in containers or raised beds in areas with heavy soil.

Dusty Miller vs. Mugwort

Mugwort plants (Artemisia spp.) have an equivalent silvery leaves and deeply dissected foliage as dusty miller. However, mugworts are more reliably hardy to zone 4, and also grow during a more mounding shape, in contrast to the upright sort of dusty miller. Mugworts are even more drought tolerant than dusty miller thanks to their deeper perennial root systems, and are good candidates for the rockery .