1 / 4
© <a href='https://bee.questagame.com/#/profile/46905?questagame_user_id=46905'> DJWitherall|questagame.com</a>, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC) · GBIF
Jacobaea maritima
dusty miller
Western and central Mediterranean — southern Europe (Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Croatia) and northern Africa; coastal cliffs, rocky slopes, and sandy shores
Learn more
Overview
Jacobaea maritima is dusty miller (silver ragwort), a mounding evergreen perennial growing 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) tall and 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) wide. Yellow daisy-like flowers 0.5-0.75 inch (1.3-2 cm) in June-August (5 weeks). Silvery-white densely tomentose (woolly) deeply lobed leaves 3-6 inches (7-15 cm) — grown primarily for the silver foliage. In Asteraceae. Formerly Senecio cineraria. Maritima = of the sea. Native to the western and central Mediterranean. Evergreen perennial in zones 8-10; treated as an annual in colder zones — the woolly foliage does not tolerate sustained wet cold. This cold sensitivity is the primary climatic limitation. Becomes woody at the base after 2-4 years in mild climates. Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids — toxic if ingested. Drought-tolerant. Tolerates alkaline and chalky soils. Deer-resistant. Zones 7-10 (annual elsewhere). Full sun. Growth rate is moderate.
Native Range
Native to the western and central Mediterranean — southern Europe (Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Croatia) and northern Africa. Found on coastal cliffs, rocky slopes, and sandy shores.Suggested Uses
Grown as a silver foliage accent in borders, containers of at least 2 gallons (7.5 L), and edging, spaced 12-18 inches (30-45 cm). Silver foliage contrast. Annual in cold zones. Toxic. Zones 7-10.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
Summer (June-August). Yellow daisy-like flowers 0.5-0.75 inch (1.3-2 cm) in loose terminal corymbs. 5 weeks. Many gardeners remove flower stems to maintain the silver foliage effect. Bee- and butterfly-visited.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Yellow, daisy-like, 0.5-0.75 inch (1.3-2 cm), in loose terminal corymbs; June-August; many gardeners remove the flower stems (the flowers contrast with and detract from the silver foliage effect)Foliage Description
Silvery-white, densely covered in white wooly hairs (tomentose), deeply pinnately lobed to bipinnately lobed, 3-6 inches (7-15 cm); the entire plant appears white-felted; evergreen in zones 8-10, treated as annual in colder zonesGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Full sun (6-10 hours). Well-drained sandy or chalky soil pH 6.0-8.0. Drought-tolerant. Evergreen zones 8-10; annual in colder zones. Cut back hard in early spring (March-April). Remove flower stems for a purely silver effect. Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids — toxic. Deer-resistant. Zones 7-10.Pruning
Cut back hard in early spring (March-April) to encourage fresh dense silver growth from the base. Remove flower stems as they appear if desired. Remove woody dead growth.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Maintenance Level
lowContainer Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons