Dusty Miller
Jacobaea maritima
An ornamental perennial grown for its deeply lobed, velvety, silver-white leaves covered in fine, dense hairs.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal foliage coloration.
- Water
- Drought-tolerant once established. Water deeply when the top few inches of soil become dry. Avoid waterlogged conditions.
- Growth
- A subshrub or herbaceous perennial featuring a mounding growth habit, typically reaching a height and spread of 8 to 12 inches with a moderate growth rate.
Care instructions
Provide full sun and well-draining soil. Water moderately when the soil is dry to the touch, avoiding overhead watering to protect the foliage.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal foliage coloration.
Watering
Drought-tolerant once established. Water deeply when the top few inches of soil become dry. Avoid waterlogged conditions.
Soil
Well-draining, average to poor soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH range between 6.0 and 7.5.
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 8 to 10, often grown as an annual in colder regions.
Growth habit
A subshrub or herbaceous perennial featuring a mounding growth habit, typically reaching a height and spread of 8 to 12 inches with a moderate growth rate.
Bloom season
Blooms in summer with small, button-like yellow daisy flowers, though it is primarily grown for foliage.
Propagation
Propagated easily through stem cuttings taken in spring or summer, or grown from seeds sown indoors prior to the last frost.
Common pests & issues
Prone to root rot in poorly draining soils and powdery mildew if air circulation is restricted.
Similar species
Centaurea cineraria, which has very similar silver foliage but can be distinguished by subtle differences in leaf dissection and flower structure.