Crushed Velvet: A Beautiful and Easy-to-Grow Plant
If you’re looking for a unique and eye-catching plant to add to your garden or home, look no further than the Crushed Velvet plant (Senecio candicans ‘Crushed Velvet’). With its soft, bluish silver foliage, this plant is sure to turn heads and complement other garden hues.
About Crushed Velvet Dusty Miller
Crushed Velvet is a type of dusty miller plant that is known for its dense, silver mound of foliage. Each leaf is soft and fuzzy, giving the plant a velvety texture. It grows in a vase shape to about 16 inches high and has a spread of about half that size.
As a tender perennial, Crushed Velvet will offer yellow flowers in the summer. It can be planted outdoors in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 11. In other zones, it can be grown as an annual or in a container indoors.
How to Grow Crushed Velvet
Growing Crushed Velvet is very easy. Here are a few tips:
- Check your hardiness zone: This will help you determine if you can grow Crushed Velvet outdoors.
- Plant in well-draining soil: Crushed Velvet prefers light, well-draining soil.
- Choose a sunny location: Crushed Velvet prefers full sun, but it can tolerate some shade in hot climates.
- Water regularly: Crushed Velvet is drought tolerant, but it will need regular watering, especially during hot weather.
- Fertilize occasionally: Crushed Velvet can benefit from occasional fertilization with a balanced fertilizer.
- Provide winter protection: In cold climates, Crushed Velvet should be protected from the cold.
Benefits of Crushed Velvet
Crushed Velvet is a beautiful and easy-to-grow plant that offers many benefits, including:
- Adds color and texture to your garden: The silver foliage of Crushed Velvet is a beautiful addition to any garden.
- Attracts pollinators: The yellow flowers of Crushed Velvet attract pollinators, such as butterflies and bees.
- Low maintenance: Crushed Velvet is a low-maintenance plant that is easy to care for.
- Versatile: Crushed Velvet can be grown in gardens, containers, and even indoors.
Other Varieties of Dusty Miller with Silver Foliage
In addition to Crushed Velvet, there are several other varieties of dusty miller with silver foliage, including:
- Silver Dust: This variety has finely divided, silvery foliage.
- Silver Lace: This variety has deeply cut, silvery foliage.
- Jack Frost: This variety has large, silvery leaves.
Tips for Growing Silver Foliage Plants
Here are a few tips for growing silver foliage plants:
- Choose the right location: Silver foliage plants prefer full sun, but they can tolerate some shade in hot climates.
- Plant in well-draining soil: Silver foliage plants prefer light, well-draining soil.
- Water regularly: Silver foliage plants are drought tolerant, but they will need regular watering, especially during hot weather.
- Fertilize occasionally: Silver foliage plants can benefit from occasional fertilization with a balanced fertilizer.
- Protect from frost: Silver foliage plants are not cold hardy and should be protected from frost.
With its beautiful silver foliage and easy-care nature, Crushed Velvet is a great choice for gardeners of all levels. Whether you’re looking for a plant to add to your garden or a houseplant to brighten up your home, Crushed Velvet is sure to please.
