Jacobaea maritimaDusty Miller

The silver in Jacobaea maritima comes from a dense white felt of hairs covering deeply lobed leaves, an adaptation to the dry, bright, salt-laden cliffs of the Mediterranean coast. In planting terms that felt reads as pure silver-grey from a distance and holds its colour all year.

It is used almost entirely as a foliage contrast, edging beds of strong colour or forming silver blocks in its own right. Most schemes replace it before it flowers, since the yellow daisies break the effect.

Specifications

• Height0.3 to 0.6 metres
• Width0.3 to 0.6 metres
• Native toThe Mediterranean coast
• FoliageDeeply lobed leaves covered in a dense white felt, giving a strong silver-grey effect; evergreen
• Growth rateModerate

Conditions

• SoilRequires free-draining soils; tolerates poor, sandy and saline ground
• LightFull sun
• WaterLow; drought-tolerant once established and intolerant of wet feet
• ClimateThrives in Mediterranean, coastal, subtropical and semi-arid regions

Additional Features

• UsesSilver foliage bedding, bed edging, coastal planting, container display and colour contrast blocks
• SpacingPlant 0.25 to 0.3 metres apart for a solid silver block
• Low MaintenancePinch out flower stems to hold the foliage effect; replace when plants become woody
• Pest ResistanceGenerally untroubled where drainage is free
• Drought ToleranceThe felted leaf surface reduces water loss and it performs well on low irrigation
• Salt ToleranceA natural coastal cliff species, tolerant of salt-laden wind
• Seasonal AppealSilver foliage holds its effect year round rather than seasonally

Dusty Miller is the standard silver foliage block for hot, dry, coastal and container planting.