Dusty Miller is usually grown as an annual for its silvery wooly leaves to provide contrast in the garden or a container. It prefers light, well-drained soil in sun or shade and is drought tolerant. Remove the blooms to help promote foliage growth. A popular plant found in interiorscapes, forests or natural areas, patios, or in garden beds and borders. Silvery, wooly leaves provide excellent contrast in beds. Start seeds indoors 10-15 weeks before the last frost date or purchase plants as starters in 6-packs. You can take stem cuttings to overwinter under glass but most people just replant with new plants in the spring. This plant is sometimes offered as a florist plant. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Susceptible to rust.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Rounded
Texture
Coarse
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; White
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Soft; Velvety
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
2-6 inches long by 1.5 to 2.5 inches wide leaves are alternate, often pinnately lobed or divided into irregular segments. The lower leaves are more deeply lobed than the upper leaves. They are densely covered in white to gray hairs.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Insignificant
Flower form
Cyme; Insignificant
Flower shape
Crown
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
It occasionally flowers with yellow daisy-like blossoms in clusters, occasionally white or purple. Flowers may appear from spring to frost. Remove flowers to encourage foliage growth.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Stem color
Gray/Silver
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Northern Africa, western Asia, Europe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Patio; Pool/Hardscape; Recreational Play Area; Small Space
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Rock Garden