Dusty Miller Silverdust, also known as Senecio cineraria, is a tender perennial foliage plant native to the Mediterranean. This plant offers a bushy habit 10-12" tall with long-lasting silver-gray foliage. Perennial in zone 8-10, Dusty Miller Silverdust adds elegance and contrast to combinations, landscape borders, and cut bouquets from spring to frost in any region. This plant flourishes in full sun with minimal water, tolerating drought and heat all summer. For a more lacy look, try growing Dusty Miller Quicksilver.
Dusty Miller Silverdust Selling Tips
Sell Dusty Miller Silverdust to customers looking for unique foliage to add to a landscape or mixed container. This plant offers many benefits, from low-maintenance care and excellent heat and drought tolerance to deer resistance and a bushy habit. Create dramatic contrast in landscape beds, borders, and mixed containers by pairing this plant with any brightly colored perennial flowers or green foliage plants. Try offering Heliotrope, Blue Salvia, Lavender, Buddleja, and Roses as companion plants. This variety flourishes as an annual or tender perennial in zone 8-10.
Coach Your Customer
1. Space plants 9-12" apart in well-drained soil in full sun.
2. Water twice a week as the plant establishes a root system, allowing the soil to dry completely between waterings. Water once per week or less for the rest of the season.
General Growing Tips For Your Seedling Tray
For best results with Dusty Miller Silverdust, plant one seedling plug per 1801-cell or 4-inch container. Use well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-6.0, EC of 0.5-1.8 mS/cm, and moderate feed (100-150 ppm N). Use a well-balanced fertilizer, avoiding excess ammonium or nitrogen, which can cause plants to stretch. Use additional magnesium sulphate and iron chelate once or twice. Provide average daily temperatures of 50-65. Watch for spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, caterpillars, and botrytis.
Flowering
Small yellow flowers may bloom in summer but detract from the foliage. We recommend pinching off any flowers that appear.
Pinching
This plant doesn't require pinching.
Spacing
Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base and foliage of each plant. We recommend spacing 4-inch containers of Dusty Miller Silverdust seedling plugs 5-7" on center. Adjust as needed for your greenhouse and plants.
Height Control
Apply daminozide or paclobutrazol as needed to regulate growth. Avoid using ammonium- or nitrogen-based fertilizer which can cause stretching. Use a calcium-based, well-balanced fertilizer for best results.
Pests
Scout for spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, and caterpillars as part of an Integrated Pest Management program.
Spider Mites are tiny pests that cause stippling, yellowing, and webbing on foliage by feeding on plant sap. They flourish in warm, dry environments. Use correct water and fertilizing practices; over-fertilizing can attract spider mites. Proper humidity levels, predatory mites or ladybugs, and insecticidal soaps or oils may prevent or address a spider mite infestation.
Whiteflies are small, winged insects that eat plant sap and cause yellowed leaves and stunted growth. Severe infestations can lead to plants dying. Prevent infestations by sanitizing surfaces and tools and removing debris. Introduce natural predators and use sticky traps to control populations. Insecticidal soaps and oils are also effective against this pest.
Caterpillars feed on foliage, causing stunted growth. If you notice a few caterpillars, remove them by hand and dispose of them. For larger populations, use insecticidal soap or oil and beneficial insects like parasitic wasps, and keep your greenhouse clean and free of debris to reduce attractive habitats for pests.
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that cause damage by sucking sap from plant tissue. They reproduce quickly and are particularly attracted to young growth. Curling and yellowed leaves, stunted growth, and stickiness on leaves are signs of an infestation. These insects also spread diseases and reproduce rapidly. Use biological controls or horticultural oils to discourage and kill aphids.
Disease
This plant isn't prone to disease. Implement preventative strategies in your commercial greenhouse, especially watering at the base of each plant, allowing the soil to dry between waterings, and providing good airflow and spacing. Watch for signs of botrytis.
Botrytis is a common fungal disease that causes brown spots on stems, leaves, and flowers. Remove and destroy affected plants, maintain appropriate humidity levels, and apply fungicides with boscalid, fenhexamid, or iprodione to control the spread. Water plants in the morning and allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
Planting Dusty Miller Silverdust Liners
We recommend planting one seedling plug per 1801 cell or 4-inch container. Completely bury the ellepot centered in the container.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Dusty Miller Silverdust Quick Reference Guide
4 Inch crop time
8-11 Weeks
Bloom Period
Year Round
Habit
Mounding, Upright
Height
10-12 Inches
Light
Full Sun
Minimum Temp
50
Perennial Zone
8-10
Water Needs
Light
Patented Plant
No
Current Availability
Current Availability
04-28-2025 (Week 18)
0
05-05-2025 (Week 19)
0
05-12-2025 (Week 20)
0
05-19-2025 (Week 21)
0
05-26-2025 (Week 22)
4,608
06-02-2025 (Week 23)
4,000
06-09-2025 (Week 24)
4,000
06-16-2025 (Week 25)
4,000
06-23-2025 (Week 26)
4,000
06-30-2025 (Week 27)
4,000
07-07-2025 (Week 28)
4,000
07-14-2025 (Week 29)
4,000
07-21-2025 (Week 30)
4,000
07-28-2025 (Week 31)
4,000
08-04-2025 (Week 32)
4,000
08-11-2025 (Week 33)
3,349
08-18-2025 (Week 34)
4,000
08-25-2025 (Week 35)
4,000
09-01-2025 (Week 36)
4,000
09-08-2025 (Week 37)
4,000
09-15-2025 (Week 38)
4,000
09-22-2025 (Week 39)
4,000
09-29-2025 (Week 40)
4,000
10-06-2025 (Week 41)
4,000
10-13-2025 (Week 42)
4,000
10-20-2025 (Week 43)
4,000
10-27-2025 (Week 44)
4,000
11-03-2025 (Week 45)
4,000
11-10-2025 (Week 46)
4,000
11-17-2025 (Week 47)
4,000
11-24-2025 (Week 48)
4,000
12-01-2025 (Week 49)
4,000
12-08-2025 (Week 50)
4,000
12-15-2025 (Week 51)
4,000
12-22-2025 (Week 52)
4,000
12-29-2025 (Week 01)
4,000
01-05-2026 (Week 02)
4,000
01-12-2026 (Week 03)
4,000
01-19-2026 (Week 04)
4,000
Dusty Miller Silverdust, also known as Senecio cineraria, is a tender perennial foliage plant native to the Mediterranean. This plant offers a bushy habit 10-12" tall with long-lasting silver-gray foliage. Perennial in zone 8-10, Dusty Miller Silverdust adds elegance and contrast to combinations, landscape borders, and cut bouquets from spring to frost in any region. This plant flourishes in full sun with minimal water, tolerating drought and heat all summer. For a more lacy look, try growing Dusty Miller Quicksilver.
Dusty Miller Silverdust Selling Tips
Sell Dusty Miller Silverdust to customers looking for unique foliage to add to a landscape or mixed container. This plant offers many benefits, from low-maintenance care and excellent heat and drought tolerance to deer resistance and a bushy habit. Create dramatic contrast in landscape beds, borders, and mixed containers by pairing this plant with any brightly colored perennial flowers or green foliage plants. Try offering Heliotrope, Blue Salvia, Lavender, Buddleja, and Roses as companion plants. This variety flourishes as an annual or tender perennial in zone 8-10.
Coach Your Customer
1. Space plants 9-12" apart in well-drained soil in full sun.
2. Water twice a week as the plant establishes a root system, allowing the soil to dry completely between waterings. Water once per week or less for the rest of the season.
General Growing Tips For Your Seedling Tray
For best results with Dusty Miller Silverdust, plant one seedling plug per 1801-cell or 4-inch container. Use well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-6.0, EC of 0.5-1.8 mS/cm, and moderate feed (100-150 ppm N). Use a well-balanced fertilizer, avoiding excess ammonium or nitrogen, which can cause plants to stretch. Use additional magnesium sulphate and iron chelate once or twice. Provide average daily temperatures of 50-65. Watch for spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, caterpillars, and botrytis.
Flowering
Small yellow flowers may bloom in summer but detract from the foliage. We recommend pinching off any flowers that appear.
Pinching
This plant doesn't require pinching.
Spacing
Space containers for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base and foliage of each plant. We recommend spacing 4-inch containers of Dusty Miller Silverdust seedling plugs 5-7" on center. Adjust as needed for your greenhouse and plants.
Height Control
Apply daminozide or paclobutrazol as needed to regulate growth. Avoid using ammonium- or nitrogen-based fertilizer which can cause stretching. Use a calcium-based, well-balanced fertilizer for best results.
Pests
Scout for spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, and caterpillars as part of an Integrated Pest Management program.
Spider Mites are tiny pests that cause stippling, yellowing, and webbing on foliage by feeding on plant sap. They flourish in warm, dry environments. Use correct water and fertilizing practices; over-fertilizing can attract spider mites. Proper humidity levels, predatory mites or ladybugs, and insecticidal soaps or oils may prevent or address a spider mite infestation.
Whiteflies are small, winged insects that eat plant sap and cause yellowed leaves and stunted growth. Severe infestations can lead to plants dying. Prevent infestations by sanitizing surfaces and tools and removing debris. Introduce natural predators and use sticky traps to control populations. Insecticidal soaps and oils are also effective against this pest.
Caterpillars feed on foliage, causing stunted growth. If you notice a few caterpillars, remove them by hand and dispose of them. For larger populations, use insecticidal soap or oil and beneficial insects like parasitic wasps, and keep your greenhouse clean and free of debris to reduce attractive habitats for pests.
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that cause damage by sucking sap from plant tissue. They reproduce quickly and are particularly attracted to young growth. Curling and yellowed leaves, stunted growth, and stickiness on leaves are signs of an infestation. These insects also spread diseases and reproduce rapidly. Use biological controls or horticultural oils to discourage and kill aphids.
Disease
This plant isn't prone to disease. Implement preventative strategies in your commercial greenhouse, especially watering at the base of each plant, allowing the soil to dry between waterings, and providing good airflow and spacing. Watch for signs of botrytis.
Botrytis is a common fungal disease that causes brown spots on stems, leaves, and flowers. Remove and destroy affected plants, maintain appropriate humidity levels, and apply fungicides with boscalid, fenhexamid, or iprodione to control the spread. Water plants in the morning and allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
Planting Dusty Miller Silverdust Liners
We recommend planting one seedling plug per 1801 cell or 4-inch container. Completely bury the ellepot centered in the container.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Dusty Miller Silverdust Quick Reference Guide
4 Inch crop time
8-11 Weeks
Bloom Period
Year Round
Habit
Mounding, Upright
Height
10-12 Inches
Light
Full Sun
Minimum Temp
50
Perennial Zone
8-10
Water Needs
Light
Patented Plant
No
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We just wanted to remind you that we are a wholesale starter plant company that sells to businesses, schools, clubs, and other non-profits. State law dictates that you must be growing for resale to order from us since we are not collecting sales tax.
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