Dusty Miller New Look, also known as Senecio cineraria, is a tender perennial foliage plant native to the Mediterranean. Benary developed this cultivar for its unique leaves, which are silver-gray, solid, and fuzzy. This plant offers an upright mounding habit 8-18" tall with long-lasting silvery foliage. Perennial in zone 8-10, Dusty Miller New Look adds elegance 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 Silverado.
Dusty Miller New Look Selling Tips
Sell Dusty Miller New Look 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 tidy mounding 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 New Look, 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 New Look seedling plugs 5-7" on center. Adjust as needed for your greenhouse and plants.
Height Control
Use daminozide or paclobutrazol as needed to prevent stretching. Appropriate cultural practices, including adequate calcium-based fertilizer, will also control height.
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 New Look 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 New Look Quick Reference Guide
| 4 Inch crop time | 8-11 Weeks |
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| Bloom Period | Year Round |
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| Habit | Mounding, Upright |
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| Height | 8-18 Inches |
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| Light | Full Sun |
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| Minimum Temp | 50 |
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| Perennial Zone | 8-10 |
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| Water Needs | Light |
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| Patented Plant | No |
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