Dusty Miller ‘Silver Dust’
Senecio cineraria
Description
One of the most productive and unique foliage plants around, this great standard has tall, thick stems with gently serrated silver leaves. The more you pick it, the more stems it produces. Ready to cut just 4 months after sowing, this hardworking plant will reward you with buckets and buckets of fuzzy, silvery foliage all season long. In warmer areas, it will perennialize if mulched.
Details
Plant type: annual/tender perennial
Height: 12 to 15 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 90 to 120 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: when 8 to 12 in tall
Height: 12 to 15 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 90 to 120 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: when 8 to 12 in tall
Seed Sowing & Growing Notes
Start seed indoors in trays 10 to 12 weeks before last frost; transplant out after all danger of frost has passed. Seeds are slow to start; bottom-watering is recommended until plants emerge. Seedlings do not look silver when they are very young but color up as they mature.
Harvesting/Vase Life
Harvest when stems are mature and firm. Foliage is especially wilt prone, so be sure to harvest during the coolest part of the day. Immediately after harvest, dip the bottom few inches of the stems in boiling water for 7 to 10 seconds, or use Quick Dip, then place into cool water. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days. Foliage can also be dried for later use. To dry, hang freshly cut stems upside down in a warm, dark place for 2 to 3 weeks or until they are firm to the touch.
Details
Description
One of the most productive and unique foliage plants around, this great standard has tall, thick stems with gently serrated silver leaves. The more you pick it, the more stems it produces. Ready to cut just 4 months after sowing, this hardworking plant will reward you with buckets and buckets of fuzzy, silvery foliage all season long. In warmer areas, it will perennialize if mulched.
Details
Plant type: annual/tender perennial
Height: 12 to 15 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 90 to 120 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: when 8 to 12 in tall
Height: 12 to 15 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 90 to 120 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: when 8 to 12 in tall
Seed Sowing & Growing Notes
Start seed indoors in trays 10 to 12 weeks before last frost; transplant out after all danger of frost has passed. Seeds are slow to start; bottom-watering is recommended until plants emerge. Seedlings do not look silver when they are very young but color up as they mature.
Harvesting/Vase Life
Harvest when stems are mature and firm. Foliage is especially wilt prone, so be sure to harvest during the coolest part of the day. Immediately after harvest, dip the bottom few inches of the stems in boiling water for 7 to 10 seconds, or use Quick Dip, then place into cool water. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days. Foliage can also be dried for later use. To dry, hang freshly cut stems upside down in a warm, dark place for 2 to 3 weeks or until they are firm to the touch.
Sources
How to Grow
Sources
How to Grow
Seed-Saving Mini Course
Learn how to save seed from zinnia, dahlia, and celosia
In our upcoming free, three-part video series, you’ll learn everything you need to know to save seeds on a home scale, including how plants are pollinated and isolation techniques to ensure varieties come back true, how to tell when plants are ready to pick and how to harvest the seeds, and how to properly dry, clean, and store seeds long term.
