Centaurea cineraria

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Centaurea Cineraria

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Cynareae
Genus:	Centaurea
Species:	C. cineraria

Binomial name

Centaurea cineraria
L.

Synonyms

Centaurea gymnocarpa
Centaurea candidissima Lam.^[1]
Acosta cineraria (L.) Holub^[2]

Centaurea cineraria or as it is known in Italy Fiordaliso scogliere^[2] or Dusty Miller is a small plant in the family Asteraceae, and is one of several plants that go by the common name "Dusty Miller" (see also Senecio cineraria and Lychnis coronaria). It originates from the Island of Capraia, in Italy.

The mature plants will grow from 15 cm to 60 cm (6inches to 24 inches). They prefer full sun, but will tolerate light shade, and also prefers average to rich well-drained soil.

C. 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.

Common varieties include: "Silver Dust", "Silver Lace" and "Cirrus". The image above the scientific classification is a plant of the "Silver Lace" variety.

[edit] References

^ Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) (1992-05-20). Taxon: Centaurea cineraria L. (HTML). Taxonomy for Plants. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program, National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved on 2008-03-03.
^ ^a ^b Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem. Details for: Centaurea cineraria (HTML). Euro+Med PlantBase. Freie Universität Berlin. Retrieved on 2008-03-03.

Ellis, Barbara W., "Taylor's Guide to Annuals, How to Select and Grow More Than 400 Annuals, Bienniels, and Tender Perenniels", 1999 Haughton Mifflin Company, New York, NY
Armitage, Allan M., "Armitage's Manual of Annuals, Bienniels, and Half Hardy Perenniels", illustrated Asha Kays and Chris Johnson, 2001 Timber Press Inc., Singapore