What Lighting Does Dusty Miller Do Best In?

Sun

• Dusty miller is remarkably tolerant of sun and dry heat. For best results, cultivate dusty miller in a bright, full-sun location in the garden. A west or south facing slope offers additional sun. Though tolerant of partial shade, and even full shade, flowering and overall plant vigor will be reduced in shady situations. According to the Kemper Center for Home Gardening, the foliage color of dusty miller plants grown in full shade will be poorer than the color of those grown in full sunlight.

Hardiness

• A native of the western and central Mediterranean region, dusty miller thrives in climates with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The plant may be grown as a perennial in USDA zones 8 to 10. In wet subtropical climates such as the Gulf Coast and Florida, the plant is commonly grown as a winter annual. In chilly northern climates, dusty miller is more frequently grown as a summer annual.

Culture

• Dusty miller prefers well-draining, sandy soils, though it will also grow in average, or even poor, soils. The plant requires regular watering when first planted to establish a healthy, extensive root system. Once established, dusty miller is moderately drought tolerant and requires water only during extended periods of summer drought. Long periods of hot, wet weather frequently cause the plant to develop rust, a disfiguring fungal disease.

Propagation

• Dusty miller is widely available in nurseries in six-pack cells, though it may also be propagated by stem tip cuttings taken in the summer or by seed. Seeds should be started indoors in a well-draining potting medium 10 to 15 weeks before the final frosts of spring, and then brought outdoors and planted in their permanent position in full sunlight. Do not cover seeds with soil when planting. Flowers usually appear in the second year if the plant is grown as a perennial.