Moxie Gardener

Dusty Miller makes an attractive addition to flower beds and container gardens.

Dusty Miller is grown as an annual in much of the temperate zones but it’s technically a perennial. It will survive winters in Zone 7 and warmer and is often planted with pansies in winter flower gardens.

You can find Dusty Miller available in several cultivars under the Latin name Senecio cineraira. The first name, Senecio, comes from the Latin “senex,” which means old man. The second name, cineraria, means ashy gray in Latin.

There is a more finely leafed variety that is excellent to use in hanging baskets or in any container. The lacy foliage really stands out when viewed up close.

Plant them in among your flowers for a shimmering backdrop to their bright colors. Dusty Miller prefers full sun to part shade so they can be planted among virtually all blooming plants.

Native to the Mediterranean, Dusty Miller prefers sandy, well drained soil. This is one member of the flower border that can withstand drought. It is excellent planted in window boxes that are beneath the eaves of your house and therefore do not receive much natural rainfall.

It isn’t bothered by many pests except the occasional aphid, which can be washed off with a strong spray from the hose. Do this on a cloudy day so the fuzz on the leaves doesn’t get burned by the sun.

You can start them from seed indoors about eight weeks before your last spring frost, but they’re also widely available in spring as bedding plants. Space them 8 to 10 inches apart and they will quickly grow to cover the area.

With their lacy, shimmery, gray foliage, they make ideal plants to add to a white garden. Planted near patios or terraces, their soft gray color reflects nighttime exterior lights for a magical effect after dark.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, August 1st, 2009 at 2:13 PM and is filed under Flowers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.