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Silver Ragwort

Asteraceae

Silver Ragwort: Ground Cover Plant

Jacobaea maritima

Easy ☀️ Direct sun ⚠️ Toxic to pets

This is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Avoid overwatering and ensure it has plenty of light to maintain its silver color.

💧 Watering

Every 14 days

☀️ Light

Direct sun

🌡️ Temperature

5° - 30°C

💨 Humidity

30% - 60%

Categories

What is Silver Ragwort?

Silver Ragwort (Jacobaea maritima) is a easy-care plant from the Asteraceae family. Jacobaea maritima, commonly known as Silver Ragwort or Dusty Miller, is a perennial subshrub prized for its striking silvery-white, felt-like foliage. The leaves are deeply lobed and covered in fine, matted hairs that give the plant a woolly appearance and help it conserve moisture. While it produce...

Silver Ragwort grows up to 60cm, with spread of 45cm, watering every 14 days, 5°C – 30°C, 30–60% humidity. It is not suitable for indoor environments and not safe for pets.

Unlike many tropical plants, Silver Ragwort tolerates watering mistakes. Best for beginners. Without precautions, ingestion can cause irritation in pets. Keep out of reach of cats and dogs.

How to Care for Silver Ragwort?

TLDR: Silver Ragwort needs Direct sun, watering every 14 days, and temperatures between 5-30°C with 30-60% humidity.

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How Often Should You Water Silver Ragwort?

Water only when the top few inches of soil are completely dry. It is much more tolerant of underwatering than overwatering.

☀️

How Much Light Does Silver Ragwort Need?

Place in the brightest spot possible; full sun is required to develop the intense silver-white color of the foliage.

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What Is the Best Soil for Silver Ragwort?

Requires excellent drainage; a sandy or gritty soil mix is ideal to prevent root rot.

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What Pot Should You Use for Silver Ragwort?

Use a terracotta pot with large drainage holes to prevent moisture buildup around the roots.

Care Schedule

🌱

Fertilize

Every 30 days

What Is Silver Ragwort and Where Does It Come From?

Jacobaea maritima, commonly known as Silver Ragwort or Dusty Miller, is a perennial subshrub prized for its striking silvery-white, felt-like foliage. The leaves are deeply lobed and covered in fine, matted hairs that give the plant a woolly appearance and help it conserve moisture. While it produces small, yellow daisy-like flowers in the summer, it is primarily grown for its decorative foliage which provides a brilliant contrast to green-leaved plants and colorful blooms in garden beds and containers.

How to Propagate Silver Ragwort?

🌱

Seed Sowing

  • Bottom-water the trays to avoid disturbing the small seeds.
  1. 1
    Prepare Trays

    Fill seed trays with a light, well-draining seed-starting mix.

  2. 2
    Sow Seeds

    Sow seeds on the surface and press lightly; they require light to germinate, so do not cover them deeply.

  3. 3
    Maintain Warmth

    Keep the soil moist and at a temperature of around 21 degrees Celsius until sprouts appear.

Materials needed:

Seed starting mixSeed traysSpray bottle
⏱️ Time: 10-15 days to germinate 📊 Success rate: high 🗓️ Best season: Spring
🌱

Softwood Cuttings

  • Keep the cutting in a humid environment but ensure the leaves stay dry to prevent rot.
  1. 1
    Take Cuttings

    Cut a 10cm non-flowering stem just below a leaf node.

  2. 2
    Prepare Stem

    Remove the lower leaves and dip the cut end into rooting hormone.

  3. 3
    Plant

    Insert the cutting into a pot filled with a mix of perlite and peat.

Materials needed:

Rooting hormonePerlitePeat mossSharp shears
⏱️ Time: 3-4 weeks 📊 Success rate: medium 🗓️ Best season: Summer

How Big Does Silver Ragwort Grow?

TLDR: Silver Ragwort can reach up to 60cm tall with Medium growth rate.

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Max height

60cm

↔️

Spread

45cm

📈

Growth rate

Medium

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Foliage

Evergreen

⚠️

Warning: Toxic Plant

This plant can be toxic if ingested. Keep out of reach of:

🐱 Cats 🐶 Dogs 👶 Children

Plant Uses

🌺

Ornamental

Great for decoration

🌿

Ground Cover

Soil coverage

Is your plant showing symptoms?

Click on the symptom to discover possible causes:

What Diseases Commonly Affect Silver Ragwort?

TLDR: Silver Ragwort is susceptible to 10 known diseases. Monitor regularly for early detection.

Aphids

Medium

Aphids are small, soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects (1/16 to 1/8 inch long) that feed by sucking nutrient-rich sap from plants. They reproduce rapidly and can quickly weaken plants, causing distorted growth and transmitting plant viruses. Aphids come in various colors including green, black, red, yellow, brown, and gray. They secrete honeydew, a sticky substance that attracts ants and encourages sooty mold growth.

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Whiteflies

High

Whiteflies are small, soft-bodied, winged insects closely related to aphids and mealybugs. They are moth-like in appearance, about 1/16 inch long, triangular in shape, and gray-white in color. These sap-sucking pests feed on plant tissue, causing yellowing, stunted growth, and wilting. They also excrete honeydew, which attracts ants and promotes sooty mold growth. Whiteflies can transmit serious plant viruses.

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Spider Mites

High

Spider mites are tiny arachnids (less than 1/20 inch long) related to spiders and ticks that feed on plant sap. They thrive in hot, dry conditions and can cause significant damage to ornamental and vegetable plants. During severe infestations, crop losses can reach 14% or higher as these pests disrupt vital plant processes including photosynthesis, carbon dioxide absorption, and transpiration.

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Gray Mold (Botrytis Blight)

High

Gray mold, caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, is a widespread necrotrophic pathogen affecting over 1,400 plant species. It thrives in cool, humid conditions and attacks weakened or aging plant tissues, causing soft rot and characteristic gray fuzzy growth.

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Meaning & Symbolism

Represents endurance, clarity, and the ability to thrive in harsh conditions.

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Sources & References

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