Artemisia Stelleriana – Silver Brocade

Silver foliage in the garden is always a welcome sight during the hottest days of summer. Silver Brocade Artemisia keeps its cool, perky looks fresh even when other plants have decided to succumb in the heat.  The perennial Dusty  Miller has delicately lobed foliage that keeps its good looks for almost 12 months of the year.

Silver Brocade can be used effectively as a ground cover in a perennial border, as an edging plant along a driveway or sidewalk. The silvery grey foliage makes a great contrast to other shrubs and perennials that have red and purple flowers or leaves. Artemisia is a common “filler” plant in mixed seasonal containers and hanging baskets. Many times it is used as the “permanent” plant that stays all year long. It looks great with spring blooming bulbs or in the winter with miniature evergreen firs and Ivy.

Full sun is the preferred spot for Silver Brocade Artemisia, although shade late in the day or early in the morning is fine. The compact foliage benefits from regular watering until properly established. When grown in containers, Artemisia needs very regular irrigation. Fertilizing can be done once a year. Early in the spring with a well balanced, slow release feed is recommended.

Low maintenance is definitely the case for this perennial. There are very small flowers that bloom late in the summer, but no deadheading is needed. A quick cut back of any winter damaged foliage is all that is needed early in the spring as new growth emerges. Dividing can be done every 3-4 years or earlier if it is being used as a ground cover.

General advise about Outdoor plants: Don’t kill your plants with kindness by overwatering. The is the most common mistake gardeners make. Different plants need different levels of moisture between watering. Some plants like moist soil between watering’s, while others prefer to dry out completely.

• Check the soil between watering’s with a stick, or even your finger, pushing below the top layer of soil or mulch to determine how moist the soil is.
• A watering can is an excellent choice for watering plants. Water well around the base.
• Water plants thoroughly. Water should run away from the edges of the plant or drain from the hole in the bottom of the pot.

Plants have individual nutrition needs, and beginning gardeners should be careful not to overfeed their plants. New plant installations will not need fertilizers or food of any kind for the first three months as they come from the nursery prepared for transplant.

Plant fertilizers come in three forms:

• Water-soluble: a liquid mixed with water and poured on the plant
• Spikes: a solid food that is pushed directly into the soil and releases nutrients slowly
• Granular: sprinkled around the base of a plant and watered in.

At the nursery these plants are grown under 40-70% shade cloth. If you plant this plant in a brightly lit area (like direct sun) you may experience leaf burn. It is best to acclimate this plant to its environment by keeping it outside and slowly moving it into a sunny area over a week or two to avoid stress before planting.

Keep an eye open for harmful insects or disease on new plant material. New plantings are not as strong as established plants, so they do require more attention. If you see a concern, you can research the issue or contact us for advice.

** Plants photos are for representation purpose only. We will make best efforts to send the plants as in photos itself, however it is not always guaranteed as plants might overgrow or shrink depending on the season, care or age. Trust us, we want to give you the best.