Cineraria Silver Dust Seeds

Info: The Dusty Miller, Silver Ragwort or Cineraria originates from the Mediterranean area and has become a popular ornamental plant in our regions. The whitish hairy ("felty") and feathered leaves of the plant are striking, making it a beautiful so-called "structural plant" in beds. The pretty yellow composite flowers do not appear until the second year. In the Mediterranean the Silver Ragwort grows as a persistent half-shrub. As it is sensitive to frost, however, it is only cultivated here for one year. The young plants should not receive too much nitrogen, otherwise they will develop green leaves.

Sowing & cultivation: Sowing under glass from mid-February to mid-April. Do not sow too densely, only press on the fine seeds, do not cover them with soil. In order for the leaves to become really white felty, the Silver Ragwort must be planted warm and sunny and also make sure that the soil is not too rich in nitrates. Can withstand smaller periods of drought. If you want to experience the yellow flowers in the following year, you must overwinter plants or cuttings frost-free.

Image source: KENPEI, Senecio cineraria5, CC BY-SA 3.0