Dusty Miller

Senecio cineraria

Dusty Miller is an annual for edging, groundcover, suited to full sun and loam or sandy soil, flowering Jul, Aug.

Where to use it in a border

At around 30 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 30 cm of room to spread, roughly 3 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 8a to 10b, so check it suits your area before planting.

It appears in our lists of full sun, sandy soil, evergreen plants.

Border Builder uses Dusty Miller's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.

Flowering through the year

Worth knowing

• Evergreen, so it keeps the border furnished through winter.
• Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.

Good companions

Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:

• African Daisyto edge in front
• Chinese Holly 'Carissa'for height behind it
• False Holly 'Goshiki'for height behind it
• Japanese Holly 'Sky Pencil'for height behind it
• Pittosporum 'Wheeler's Dwarf'for height behind it
• Purple Hopseed Bushfor height behind it

Garden styles

Formal Foundation planting Modern Xeriscape (low-water)