Dusty Miller Plants: How to Grow Silver Ragwort in Your Garden

Dusty miller (Jacobaea Maritima) is a herbaceous perennial that has segmented leaves with a silvery fuzz on top that makes the plant look like it has silver-gray foliage. Dusty miller is a member of the Asteraceae family of plants and also goes by the common name silver ragwort. It is a low-growing shrub that reaches heights between six and eighteen inches at maturity. It is a popular companion plant for flowering plants because its neutral foliage allows showy blooms to stand out in contrast.

If you’re looking for the right cultivar of dusty miller to grow in your own home garden, consider planting any of these popular varieties.

1. 1. Silverdust (Senecio cineraria): Silverdust has fine, silvery leaves that grow in a snowflake shape. This variety is very drought tolerant, and grows well in USDA hardiness zones six to ten.
2. 2. Silver lace (Polygonum aubertii): Silver lace has very fine leaves that have a delicate filigree shape. It thrives in full sun, but beyond that, it is a frost-tender and hardy plant that can grow in colder climates. It is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant and grows well in USDA hardiness zones three to eight.
3. 3. Dusty miller 'Cirrus' (Centaurea cineraria): Cirrus dusty miller grows in broad mounds with large, silvery-gray leaves and button-sized, yellow flowers. It can tolerate the harsh weather conditions found in shore climates like wind and temperature fluctuations. It thrives in USDA hardiness zones seven to nine.
4. 4. Dusty miller “new look”: Dusty miller “new look” grows large, broad silvery leaves from tall woody stems. This newer variety of dusty miller grows faster than other cultivars, especially when you trim and prune it regularly. It grows well in USDA zones eight to ten.

Dusty miller is native to the Mediterranean and thrives in mild climates found in USDA hardiness zones eight through eleven. When planting this frost-tender perennial from seed, start germination in late winter, six weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings will be ready for early spring planting. If you decide to propagate dusty miller from cuttings, you can plant in spring to make the most of the summer growing season.

You can propagate dusty miller by planting cuttings from a mature plant. However, if you don’t have a mature plant to take a cutting from, you can grow this plant from seed directly in your garden or in a container. Follow this step-by-step tutorial for growing dusty miller from seeds.

1. 1. Germinate the seeds. Fill a seed tray with potting mix and plant your dusty miller seeds just beneath the soil. Start the seed germination process about six weeks before the last frost of the spring. Keep your tray indoors in a place with full sun that has a temperature of about seventy degrees Fahrenheit. Water your seeds immediately after you plant them. Your seeds should start to germinate within ten days, after which you should start to see seedlings. When you can pull on your seedlings and feel a little bit of resistance, your plants have developed roots and are ready to re-plant.
   
2. 2. Transfer to small containers. Transfer your seedlings into small, individual containers. Keep the container plantings indoors in a place where they get plenty of sunlight.
3. 3. Transfer to your garden in spring. After the last frost of the spring, you can transfer your plants into your garden or into larger outdoor pots. Space individual plants about eight inches apart if you’re planting them in a container. If you’re planting your dusty miller in a garden, keep your plants about ten inches apart.

Dusty miller is a hardy and low-maintenance plant once it establishes itself. However, there are a few things you can do to help your dusty miller plants thrive.

1. 1. Water it sparingly. Dusty miller is a drought-resistant plant and can survive with minimal watering once it establishes itself, but you should water it once a week as it develops roots. Adding a layer of mulch can help the soil retain moisture, lessening the need for extra watering. Overwatering can lead to root rot, so make sure that your soil is well-draining and that you're only watering it when the soil dries out.
2. 2. Give it full sun. Dusty miller needs full sunlight to retain its silvery color and furry texture. When grown in partial shade, the plant will lose its silvery color.
3. 3. Fertilize to stimulate new growth. If your soil has a particularly high clay content or is very rocky, fertilizer can help stimulate new growth. Otherwise, dusty miller doesn't typically require feeding with fertilizer.

Dusty miller can be toxic for pets if they ingest it, causing vomiting and diarrhea. Cats and dogs can also suffer from skin irritation by coming into contact with dusty miller. Gardeners with pets should consider these effects before planting dusty miller.

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