Centaurea cineraria


Centaurea cineraria, the velvet centaurea, is - like some other plants - also known as dusty miller and silver dust. It is a small plant in the family Asteraceae and originates from the Island of Capraia in Italy, where it is called fiordaliso delle scogliere.
The mature plants will grow from 15 cm to 60 cm. They prefer full sun, but will tolerate light shade, and also prefers average to rich well-drained soil.
Centaurea cineraria will produce small white or yellow flowers in summer, but these are usually trimmed because the plant is normally grown as foliage.
Depending on climate, it can be grown as either an annual or as a perennial.
C. cineraria is polymorphic in several characters, and the high variation within populations gives rise to many subspecies which causes C. cineraria to be referred to under a wide variety of different synonoms.
Common cultivars include:'Silver Dust', 'Silver Lace' and 'Cirrus'. The image above the scientific classification is a plant of the 'Silver Lace' cultivar.
C. cineraria is sometimes referred to as Centaurea gymnocarpa, as a hybrid species between the two is used in gardens as an ornamental plant. However in the wild, the two may be considered different species.
In the UK Centaurea cineraria subsp. cineraria has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.