Silverdust, Dusty Miller Seed

Silverdust Dusty Miller Seed

Finely cut silver-white foliage resembles delicate snowflakes
Velvety leaves cover neat twelve-inch mounding plants
Excellent filler softens colorful garden combinations
Harvest stems for fresh or dried arrangements

See product details

Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Senecio cineraria

Days to maturity

75 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

250 Seeds

About Silverdust, Dusty Miller Seed, Dusty Miller Seed

Excellent for cut-flowers and filling bouquets. Forms neat 12" mounding plants with attractive, finely cut, silvery-white foliage. Silverdust has large, 3-7" long, velvety leaves with a magical snowflake appearance.

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

Top of Soil

Days to Germination

10–21 days

Germination Type

D - Surface Sow

In-row plant spacing

9-12"

Plant profile

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

18 inches

Growth Habits

Mounding

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

75,000

Color

Green, White

Seed Type

Open Pollinated

Before Planting

Prepare for Dusty Miller by selecting a full-sun site with well-drained soil and good air circulation. Remove perennial weeds, loosen compacted ground, and incorporate modest compost without making the bed overly rich. Prepare a fine, firm seedbed. Because light aids germination, prepare to surface sow or press seed into the medium without a heavy covering.

Planting

Dusty Miller may be direct-sown in early spring, and many types also perform well from fall or winter sowing. Keep the surface evenly moist until seedlings establish, taking care not to bury light-requiring seed. Indoor starts need bright light and cool conditions. Thin direct-sown seedlings after true leaves appear, or transplant carefully before roots become crowded.

Watering

Water dusty miller regularly until established, then irrigate deeply only when the soil becomes dry. Avoid frequent shallow watering and saturated conditions, which encourage weak growth or root disease.

Fertilizer

Support dusty miller with modest balanced nutrition after establishment, but skip additional feeding when plants remain vigorous. Avoid heavy nitrogen, which can suppress blooming.

Harvesting

Cut dusty miller flowers when blooms are well colored and at the opening stage best suited to display. Harvest during the cool morning with clean shears, leaving healthy foliage for continued flowering.

Tips

Pinch young dusty miller plants to encourage branching when appropriate, then deadhead regularly to extend flowering. Succession plantings can maintain color after the earliest plants decline.

Pests & Diseases

Dusty miller may develop powdery mildew, rust, Botrytis, or root rot. Its fuzzy foliage holds spray and moisture, so base irrigation is preferable. Remove rusted or gray-molded leaves, thin dense plantings, and discard plants whose crowns blacken. Avoid confusing normal silver hairs with powdery mildew.

Tender growth and blooms on dusty miller may be damaged by aphids, thrips, spider mites, beetles, slugs, or caterpillars. Use hand removal for larger pests and targeted, labeled controls for confirmed infestations, avoiding sprays during pollinator activity.