Ask the Expert: What is a Cineraria
I was given one. It is beautiful. I want to know how to care for it.  Mrs. Culbreath

Reply:

I need to know does your Cineraria have green leaves and brightly colored aster looking flowers?

Pericallis x Hybrida

If so, you have Cineraria (Percallis x hybrida). Growers often force these plants to bloom so that florists can sell them Christmas through Easter. They prefer climates that don’t have extreme temperature changes. However, they prefer cooler temperatures. In the United States, this type of cineraria is treated as a summer annual or winter blooming indoor plant. Outside, in the summer, they need shady conditions and inside they need bright filtered light. They need humus-rich and well-drained soil. Indoors, watering is crucial. These plants are susceptible to fluctuations in watering, overwatering rots roots and underwatering decreases flowering. They need high humidity, but do not wet the leaves.

Dusty Miller

If your cineraria has dusty gray leaves it probably is dusty miller (Senecio cineraria). This garden plant loves sunny areas and will tolerate drought like conditions once established. It does not like to be soggy and will need a very well-drained soil mixture that contains a little sand.

Although this plant can be biennial and even perennial, it is grown as an annual in the in the garden.  It makes a good accent plant in outdoor containers as well.  It can produce mustard colored flowers  the second year if plants are overwintered.

Hopefully one of these plants is you cineraria.