Dusty Miller
Jacobaea maritima · Also known as: Centaurea cineraria, silver ragwort
Silvery-gray foliage often planted in OC dune landscaping, sometimes naturalized on barrier-island sand.
Quick facts
| Group | Dune plant |
|---|---|
| Likelihood nearby | ★★★☆☆ |
| Habitats | Dunes, Ocean beach, Assateague State Park, Assateague National Seashore |
| Seasons (this coast) | spring, summer, fall |
How to recognize them
- Deeply lobed, woolly silver-gray leaves on woody stems; can look like a small shrub in dune plantings.
- Yellow daisy-like flowers when blooming, though many landscape cultivars are grown mainly for foliage.
Biology notes
- Mediterranean native widely used in coastal plantings for salt and drought tolerance.
- Can persist and spread from garden escapes—treat as ornamental unless clearly wild on open dunes.
Where to see them around Ocean City
- Ocean City dune and streetscape plantings along Coastal Highway and beach entrances.
- Occasional naturalized clumps on Assateague dunes near boardwalks or old plantings.
When to look
- Foliage visible spring through fall; flowers mid-summer when plants bloom.
Viewing tips & etiquette
- Often planted, not wild—pair with native beachgrass and sea rocket for contrast on a dune walk.
- Do not collect; may be part of municipal restoration or landscaping.
