Dusty miller plants add a unique silver touch to gardens. Their soft, fuzzy leaves create a beautiful contrast when paired with colorful flowers. Many gardeners love using dusty miller as a backdrop or border plant.
Choosing the right companion plants for dusty miller can make your garden pop with color and texture. The best companions share similar growing needs and complement dusty miller’s silvery foliage. This article will explore 10 great options to plant alongside your dusty miller for a stunning garden display.
In this article, we'll cover
1. Purple Fountain Grass
Purple fountain grass is a striking companion for dusty miller. Here’s what you need to know:
- Botanical Name: Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’
- Growing Zones: 9-11
- Soil Needs: Well-draining
- Water Needs: Moderate
- Sunlight Needs: Full sun
- Mature Size: 3-5 feet tall and wide
This grass adds height and texture to your garden. Its purple-red foliage creates a beautiful contrast with dusty miller’s silvery leaves.
You can plant purple fountain grass behind dusty miller for a layered look. The grass’s arching form softens dusty miller’s compact shape.
In cooler areas, you can grow purple fountain grass as an annual. It’s easy to care for and grows quickly, making it a great choice for summer gardens.
2. Russian Sage
Russian sage is a great companion for dusty miller. Here’s what you need to know:
- Botanical Name: Perovskia atriplicifolia
- Growing Zones: 4-9
- Soil Needs: Well-draining
- Water Needs: Low
- Sunlight Needs: Full sun
- Mature Size: 3-5 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide
This plant has gray-green leaves and purple flowers that bloom in summer. You’ll love how its tall spikes contrast with dusty miller’s low, silvery foliage. Russian sage is drought-tolerant and easy to grow. Plant them together in sunny spots for a pretty, low-maintenance pairing.
3. Lavender
Lavender is a great companion for dusty miller. Its purple blooms contrast beautifully with dusty miller’s silver foliage.
- Botanical Name: Lavandula
- Growing Zones: 5-9
- Soil Needs: Well-draining, sandy
- Water Needs: Low
- Sunlight Needs: Full sun
- Mature Size: 1-3 feet tall and wide
You can plant lavender and dusty miller together in sunny, dry areas. They both like similar conditions and don’t need much water. The mix of silver and purple creates a lovely look in your garden.
Lavender also repels pests that might bother other plants. Its sweet scent will make your garden smell nice too.
4. Echinacea
Echinacea, or coneflower, makes a great companion for dusty miller. These colorful, daisy-like flowers add height and visual interest to your garden.
- Botanical Name: Echinacea purpurea
- Growing Zones: 3-9
- Soil Needs: Well-draining
- Water Needs: Moderate
- Sunlight Needs: Full sun
- Mature Size: 2-4 feet tall
Echinacea comes in shades of purple, pink, and white. Its tall stems contrast nicely with dusty miller’s low, silvery foliage.
You can plant echinacea behind dusty miller for a layered look. Both plants attract butterflies and bees, making your garden buzz with life.
5. Coreopsis
Coreopsis is a lovely companion for dusty miller. You’ll love its cheerful daisy-like flowers that bloom all summer long.
- Botanical Name: Coreopsis spp.
- Growing Zones: 4-9
- Soil Needs: Well-draining
- Water Needs: Low to moderate
- Sunlight Needs: Full sun
- Mature Size: 1-3 feet tall and wide
Coreopsis comes in shades of yellow, orange, and red. Its fine-textured foliage pairs nicely with dusty miller’s silvery leaves. Plant them together in borders or containers for a bright, eye-catching display.
These easy-care plants attract butterflies to your garden. They’re also drought-tolerant once established, making them perfect for low-maintenance landscapes.
6. Salvia
Salvia makes a great companion for dusty miller. Its vibrant flowers create a stunning contrast against dusty miller’s silvery foliage.
- Botanical Name: Salvia spp.
- Growing Zones: 5-10
- Soil Needs: Well-draining
- Water Needs: Moderate
- Sunlight Needs: Full sun
- \Mature Size: 1-5 feet tall and wide
You’ll love how salvia’s spiky blooms in shades of blue, purple, or red pop next to dusty miller’s soft, pale leaves. Both plants enjoy similar growing conditions, making them easy to care for together. Plant salvia behind or alongside dusty miller for an eye-catching display in your garden beds or containers.
7. Verbena
Verbena is a great companion for dusty miller. Its colorful blooms contrast beautifully with dusty miller’s silvery foliage.
Here’s what you need to know about verbena:
- Botanical Name: Verbena spp.
- Growing Zones: 3-11
- Soil Needs: Well-draining
- Water Needs: Moderate
- Sunlight Needs: Full sun
- Mature Size: 6-12 inches tall, 12-18 inches wide
Verbena flowers come in shades of purple, pink, red, and white. You can plant them in front of or around dusty miller for a stunning display.
Both plants like full sun and well-draining soil. This makes them easy to care for together. Verbena blooms all summer long, giving your garden constant color.
8. Sedum
Sedum is a great companion for dusty miller. These hardy succulents add interesting texture to your garden.
- Botanical Name: Sedum spp.
- Growing Zones: 3-9
- Soil Needs: Well-draining
- Water Needs: Low
- Sunlight Needs: Full sun
- Mature Size: 6-24 inches tall
Sedum comes in many varieties with colorful foliage and flowers. The fleshy leaves contrast nicely with dusty miller’s silvery foliage. Both plants like dry conditions and full sun. You can mix low-growing sedums as ground cover or use taller types behind dusty miller. Their late summer blooms attract butterflies to your garden.
9. Yarrow
Yarrow makes a great companion for dusty miller. Its colorful flowers add a nice contrast to dusty miller’s silvery foliage.
- Botanical Name: Achillea millefolium
- Growing Zones: 3-9
- Soil Needs: Well-draining, average
- Water Needs: Low
- Sunlight Needs: Full sun
- Mature Size: 2-3 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide
You can plant yarrow near dusty miller for a pretty pairing. Yarrow comes in many colors like yellow, pink, and white. Both plants like full sun and don’t need much water.
Yarrow attracts butterflies to your garden. It’s also deer-resistant. The two plants look nice together in borders or rock gardens.
10. Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa makes a great companion for dusty miller. These plants mix well together in containers or garden beds. Here are some key facts about calibrachoa:
- Botanical Name: Calibrachoa spp.
- Growing Zones: 9-11
- Soil Needs: Well-draining
- Water Needs: Medium
- Sunlight Needs: Full sun
- Mature Size: 6-12 inches tall, 12-24 inches wide
You’ll love calibrachoa’s small petunia-like flowers in many bright colors. They bloom all summer long. The trailing habit works well to soften dusty miller’s upright form.
Plant calibrachoa near the edges of containers or beds. This lets its stems spill over for a lovely effect. The colorful blooms contrast nicely with dusty miller’s silvery foliage.