The yellow blooms of dusty miller are often removed to redirect the plant’s resources to the foliage. Photo by Damon Abdi

Summary

Foliage is the defining feature of this species, where the silvery-blue shades harmonize well with the vivid colors of other plants in annual beds, containers or large mass plantings. The foliage color is best observed when these plants are grown in full sun. While it tolerates some shade, the silvery hues of the foliage tend to diminish if sunlight is not sufficient. A low-maintenance plant that maintains a compact size (up to 2 feet in height and width, more commonly around 1.5 feet), this is a reliable selection for areas of the landscape that need a cooler contrast to bright colors found on the flowers of other plants in the garden.

As a bonus, the foliage can appear to shine at night, creating an impactful asset to the landscape even after the sun sets.

This plant is typically treated as an annual for the cool season, providing foliar interest even when facing a light frost. Dusty miller’s value in the cool season can also extend into the warm season, where this robust, rounded plant is resilient to the heat of a Louisiana summer. As the weather warms, small yellow flowers begin to emerge. The flowers may draw the attention of onlookers; however, many gardeners feel that they detract from the foliage. Removing flower buds as they appear is a practice that can help the plant conserve energy, allowing it to focus on maintaining the feature foliage.

The lobed leaves of this plant possess a soft, velvety feel that contributes texture to the garden. Texture is a unique feature in the landscape, with connotations toward the visual “feel” of the plant and the physically tangible touch of the foliage. This lends this species particularly well to prominent positions in landscape arrangements or containers. Dusty miller placed at the front of a landscape bed will not overpower the rest of the arrangement, given its modest size and more muted tones. In container arrangements, dusty miller can serve as a “filler” plant that can take up space and add texture while complementing more vibrant “thriller plants” or “spiller plants.” Dusty miller harmonizes well as a companion planting for pansies, violas and dianthus, bringing foliar interest to make the formerly listed flowers more attractive in the landscape. Popular varieties available in Louisiana include New Look (taller, thicker stems), Cirrus (oak-shaped leaves that mature from white to a silver-green) and Silver Dust (deeply lobed foliage).

Louisiana Super Plants are selected for their resilience to our conditions, but also for the aesthetic value they bring to landscape compositions and container plantings. With dusty miller, cool-season foliar color can be provided in a subtle way, accentuating your favorite feature flowers of winter.

Requirements

Growth Habit

Care and Maintenance

For more information on dusty miller and other Louisiana Super Plants, contact your local LSU AgCenter Extension office or visit http://www.lsuagcenter.com/SuperPlants