How to Care for Dusty Miller Flowers

Plant dusty miller in full sun to partial shade. It likes well-drained, fertile soil, but tolerates average soils and droughts well. Because of their low-growing nature, dusty miller is often used as a border in flower beds or tucked into container gardens.

Fertilize dusty miller using a water-soluble, all-purpose fertilizer every two to three weeks, following the directions on the label.

Put down a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch, such as hay, wood chips or shredded bark, to discourage weeds from growing and to help maintain soil moisture.

Water dusty miller only when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil dries out. Apply the water with a soaker hose laid on the soil. Watering from above with a sprinkler can cause discoloring or spotting on the leaves.

Harvest flowers for bouquets when the majority of the disks on the corymb are showing color. Do not cut individual flowers, cut the main stem of the corymb a few inches above ground level. If you are growing dusty miller primarily for its foliage, like most people do, remove the flower heads as soon as they appear.

Pinch the growing tips of the main branches every 3 to 4 weeks to encourage the plants to branch out and produce a thicker, bushier specimen.