Dusty Miller is an annual grown for its yellow blooms, which open from spring through fall. Notably, it shrugs off deer, shrugs off dry spells, and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its flowers are a modest draw for honeybees.
Zones
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pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
80
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What Dusty Miller is
Dusty Miller grows as an annual and reaches around two feet at maturity. It blooms yellow from spring through fall. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Dusty Miller
Dusty Miller does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 800 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 70 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
Data pending
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Days to Maturity
80 days
Growable Ground plant catalog
GDD Required
800+
Growing degree-days of accumulated warmth it needs to mature — humid summers reach this faster than cool coastal ones.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
2 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
70+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Start the season right
Plant dusty miller in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Dusty Miller prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5 (Growable Ground Plant Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut dusty miller blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — dusty miller is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: Cornell Poisonous Plants Database.)
Dusty Miller offers low value to bees and other pollinators.
Where Dusty Miller thrives
Whether dusty miller thrives on a given site comes down to its soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost dates — the conditions that vary parcel to parcel.
See if Dusty Miller will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether dusty miller actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Dusty Miller in my zone?
Zone data for dusty miller is being finalized. A Growable Ground report checks your parcel's full suitability against federal soil, climate, and zone data.
When should you plant Dusty Miller?
Most growers plant dusty miller after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 70-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Dusty Miller need?
Dusty Miller needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Dusty Miller need?
Dusty Miller prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (Growable Ground Plant Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Dusty Miller attract pollinators?
Yes — dusty miller's flowers are a modest nectar source for honeybees.
Is Dusty Miller safe for pets?
Dusty Miller is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: Cornell Poisonous Plants Database.)