Centaurea cineraria aka Dusty Miller

Centaurea cineraria is a small perennial or subshrub in the aster family. Common names include dusty miller, silver dust, and silver ragwort. Kew lists Italy as its native range. North Carolina State places its origin in the wider Mediterranean region. Gardeners grow it as a perennial or an annual. Its main feature is its pale foliage, rather than its flowers.

The plant grows fast and forms a rounded mound. Garden height ranges from 0.5–2 feet (0.15–0.61 metres). Its spread reaches about 1–1.17 feet (0.30–0.36 metres). The leaves grow alternately along the stems and have deep lobes. Their narrow shape and cut edges give them a lacy look. Fine hairs cover both leaf surfaces and feel soft to touch. These hairs give the leaves their silver or white cast. Green shows through more clearly when the leaves get wet. Shade also makes the white colour less strong. The stems have no scent.

Yellow flower heads have a domed shape and resemble small thistles. Some have larger florets around the edge of each head. North Carolina State lists flowering in spring and autumn. Its page also includes a summer-flowering tag. Gardeners often remove the heads to favour leaf growth. The fruit is a cylindrical achene that holds the seed. Plants can grow from seed or from stem cuttings. Summer tip cuttings use partly firm wood.

Choose full sun and moist soil that drains well. Moderately rich soil suits it, though it can tolerate poor soil. It also tolerates some shade, but growth may become leggy. The soil listing includes acidic clay and loam. Once established, the plant tolerates drought. It is hardy in USDA zones 8–10. Foliage can last beyond the first frost. Long spells below freezing can kill growth back to the crown. Cut away dead foliage; fresh growth emerges in late spring.

Use the pale leaves to contrast with burgundy, purple, or deep magenta flowers. The plant suits pots, bed edges, paths, and slopes. Its light leaves catch moonlight in gardens used after dark. It also fits cottage gardens and drought-tolerant planting schemes. Leaf colour and texture provide interest beyond the flower display. Maintenance needs are low, and deer tend to leave it alone. North Carolina State reports few pests and no major plant problems. The supplied sources give no species-level guidance on food use or toxicity.