I was surprised when all of my dusty millers remained well during the winter, but they were not as attractive by springtime because for one, they didn't look fresh, and two, it had woody stems that were gangly, so I pulled them all out, but it was nice to have them in the winter because it remained evergreen or shall I say, evergray.

Thanks for the tip. I'll just take the ones I have in pots and put them in the ground. When they've given the winter garden a bit of contrast I'll yank them for some youthful plants in the spring.
jeribelle

These plants are perfectly hardy in your area in containers. They become less attractive because they will bloom in their second season, which forces them out of their juvenile stage. I think they are interesting in containers at that stage, but they will take the pots over.

They will behave the same way in the ground. They will get real tall and leggy before they bloom.

I've had dusty miller in a pot that have lasted through two winters. Back in February or so, they were looking woody and leggy and kind of brownish, but I noticed some new growth near the bottom of the plant. I cut back all of the woody old growth and now I have full, bright, fresh looking plants that are nearly 2 feet tall.

So I would say leave them out, and cut back all the woody growth in the late winter/early spring and see what happens.

I have dusty miller that has made it through 3 winters in Georgia! 2 being in Atlanta on a second floor balcony. This past summer I cut 6 or so inches off from the main stem. Dipped them in rooting hormone and kept them in damp sandy soil. They rooted to my surprize. My old ones are putting off new shoots at the bottom. I love having something that makes it through the winter and muggy summer. I have also found that lambs ear and white yarrow do the same.