How to Grow Silver Lace Vine
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Silver Lace Vine
Tanacetum ptarmiciflorum
vineSilver Lace Vine is a tender perennial vine prized for its delicate, feathery silver-white foliage that creates an airy, lace-like appearance in gardens and containers. It produces small white flowers, but is primarily grown for its ornamental foliage rather than blooms. The plant is often used as an annual in cooler climates and thrives in warm, sunny locations.
When should you plant Silver Lace Vine in your zone?
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Example Silver Lace Vine timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Silver Lace Vine
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Silver Lace Vine
Around May 17≈ 30 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Silver Lace Vine dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 9b-11, grown as an annual in cooler zones
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Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny seedlings emerge with fine, thread-like cotyledons and early feathery foliage development
Keep soil moist but not waterlogged; provide bright light and good air circulation to prevent damping off
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksPlant develops increasingly feathery, silvery-white pinnate foliage with a delicate lace-like texture
Water moderately; provide full sun for silver coloration; pinch back tips early to encourage bushier growth if desired
Establishment
4-6 weeksVine becomes fuller with mature silvery foliage spreading and creating dense cover; growth accelerates
Reduce watering frequency; fertilize lightly with balanced or low-nitrogen fertilizer; provide support structure if training as a climbing vine
Flowering
6-8 weeksSmall, inconspicuous white or pale yellow flowers appear among the foliage, but are secondary to the foliage display
Deadhead spent flowers to redirect energy to foliage; foliage remains the primary ornamental feature
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; isolate affected plants; inspect regularly in warm climates
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Increase humidity with misting; spray with water spray or neem oil; provide good air circulation
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Yellow sticky traps; insecticidal soap spray; neem oil applications
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Improve drainage; reduce watering frequency; repot in fresh, dry soil if severely affected
Uses
Ornamental foliage for gardens and containers
HouseholdIts delicate, silvery-white feathery foliage provides striking contrast and texture in garden beds, borders, and especially container gardens. The airy appearance creates a sophisticated, ethereal quality to mixed plantings. [source]
Dried flowers and foliage arrangements
CraftThe foliage dries exceptionally well, retaining its silvery color and delicate texture, making it ideal for dried arrangements, wreaths, and floral crafts. [source]
Interior container and houseplant décor
HouseholdSilver Lace Vine is popular as an ornamental houseplant or patio container plant in sunny locations, where its lacy foliage adds lightness and visual interest to interior spaces. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeSmall white flowers attract pollinators including bees and beneficial insects, supporting local pollinator populations while providing secondary ornamental interest. [source]
Textural contrast in mixed plantings
HouseholdThe fine, feathery texture contrasts beautifully with bold-leafed plants like coleus, begonias, or impatiens, creating dynamic visual compositions in beds and containers. [source]
Harvest Tips
Silver Lace Vine is ornamental and not harvested for consumption. For floral arrangements and crafts, cut stems as needed in the morning when foliage is freshest. Stems and foliage dry well for use in dried arrangements.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Silver Lace Vine is sometimes called 'Dusty Miller Vine' due to its silvery powdery coating (pubescence) that gives it the characteristic pewter appearance and reflects sunlight to reduce heat stress.
- 🌱 The fine, lace-like foliage is composed of deeply dissected pinnate leaves, creating an almost fern-like appearance that belies its relation to the Asteraceae (daisy) family.
- 🌱 In warm climates where it grows as a perennial, Silver Lace Vine can become woody and vine-like, climbing and trailing substantially, whereas in cooler climates treated as an annual, it remains more compact.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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