Silver Dust Dusty Miller

Silver Dust Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria 'Silver Dust') is a low foliage plant about 30cm high and wide, with soft, velvety, deeply cut leaves in a frosted silver. It is an especially silvery form and has earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Merit. Grown as a border accent or in containers, it calms a bed of bright flowers and lifts any dark-leaved shrub beside it.

Why you'll love it

• Silver that looks frosted. The finely dissected, velvety leaves are among the most silvery of any dusty miller, and they glow in low light.
• Tough in cold, heat and salt. It is frost hardy to about minus 10C, copes well with heat and coastal conditions, and is drought tolerant once established.
• A natural contrast plant. Silver sets off dark flowers and dark leaves, such as purple-leafed loropetalum or alternanthera, and tones down hot colours.
• Poor soil is fine. It will grow in poor, rocky ground as long as it drains.
• Good in a vase. The striking silver leaves are useful in floral arrangements.

Where it works best

Borders and bedding. Plant 25cm apart for a continuous silver edge, or tuck single plants between flowers as a foil. It also suits mixed seasonal planting.

Containers. A pot of dusty miller with trailing or dark-leaved plants gives a smart seasonal display on a patio, balcony or front step.

Coastal gardens. The species grows on Mediterranean sea cliffs, and this form copes with coastal conditions in the garden as well.

Growing Silver Dust Dusty Miller in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, and a dry climate if you can offer one. It suits Mediterranean, warm temperate, cool temperate and arid or semi-arid gardens. In humid regions it is happiest through the cooler months and usually fades in muggy summers.

Soil. Well-drained soil is the key. It will grow in poor, rocky soils, but heavy or wet ground rots the roots.

Water and feed. Water in dry spells while it establishes, then let it manage on rainfall. Fertilise once a year, in spring, because too much feeding softens the growth.

Pruning. Keep it tidy by removing spent leaves as required. If you are growing it for the foliage and do not like the yellow flowers, cut them off as they appear.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Silver Dust Dusty Miller as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. It arrives as a small tuft of silver leaves and grows into a mound over the following months. Plant it in a sunny, well drained spot.

Our grower supplies the tube, and supply comes and goes. A sold out tube just means the grower has none right now: press the notify button on the page and we will email you the day it returns.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Coastal and salt tolerant plants
• Plants that thrive in pots
• Low growing plants for garden borders
• Drought tolerant plants

Common questions

Is it a perennial or an annual?

It is a frost hardy perennial, but it is typically grown as an annual for seasonal pots and bedding. In dry climates it can last for years, and in humid regions expect to replace it after a season or two.

Should I cut off the yellow flowers?

That is up to you. Occasional stems of deep yellow daisies appear, and you can leave them for colour or snip them off if you are growing the plant for its silver leaves.

Is it safe for pets?

No. Like other senecios it is toxic if eaten, so keep it out of reach of pets that chew plants.