Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 3128305

Dusty Miller

Centaurea cineraria

Also known as Velvet Centaurea, Silver Dust

Velvet centaurea clings to sheer Mediterranean limestone cliffs, forming dense, mounding subshrubs clothed in brilliant silvery-white foliage. The thick coating of woolly trichomes reflects intense sunlight and reduces water loss, enabling survival in arid, salt-sprayed maritime environments. In summer, solitary thistle-like heads of violet-purple florets erupt above the pale leaves, providing nectar to coastal pollinators.

Drought TolerantMediterraneanFlowering
Dusty Miller reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Murray NZ, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Murray NZ · cc-by
—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Sunlight
  • Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
  • Soil Minerals
Predators
  • Mediterranean Land Snail
  • Caterpillars of Noctuid Moths
ThreatsCoastal tourism infrastructure, recreational climbing disturbance, and invasive competitors
HabitatsCoastal limestone cliffs, rocky maritime bluffs, and cultivated rock gardens
Life span5–10 years
Classification
  1. FamilyAsteraceae
  2. SpeciesCentaurea cineraria
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Foliage Inspection: Look closely at the felted leaf coating, which serves as a natural sunblock against intense coastal radiation.
  • Bloom Season: Search for the showy purple composite flower heads from late spring through mid-summer.
  • Climbing Caution: Avoid trampling or disturbing fragile wild colonies rooted in steep coastal sea cliffs.
Related species
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