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Cistus collection

Cistus
Rockrose, Gum Cistus

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Collection contains 3 plants

  • 1 x Cistus x purpureus - Rockrose
  • 1 x Cistus x corbariensis - Rockrose
  • 1 x Cistus lusitanicus Decumbens - Rockrose

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This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty

More information

A collection of three different cistus plants to create a Mediterranean bed covering approximately 3 m². These dense evergreen bushes bloom between May and July depending on the climate, their beautiful flowers resembling dark pink or white dog roses depending on the variety. Perfect for dry gardens, they thrive in full sun in any rocky and poor soil, even arid in summer. Their cold resistance ranges from -9 to -15 °C.
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -9°C
Soil type
Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Stony (poor and well-drained)
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to October
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Flowering time April to July
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Collection items (3 plants)

Description

This collection of Cistus will delight lovers of scrubland gardens. It brings together three different varieties, whose pinkish-purple and white flowers bloom together for 3 weeks in spring or summer, depending on the climate. These three shrubs have evergreen foliage, aromatic in hot weather, a dense habit, and the ability to prevent "weeds" from growing under their branches. They can be planted in a large rockery or used in a very sunny bed, in rocky and poor soil.

The collection consists of:

1 Cistus x purpureus: a shrub forming a large regular ball of 1 m in all directions. Its 6-7 cm, pinkish-violet flowers with beautiful red-purple spots, contrast with its dark and curled, very aromatic foliage. Hardiness: -12/-15 °C at the peak for a mature plant, in rocky soil.

1 Cistus x corbariensis: this small bush is 80 cm high by 1 m wide, hardy down to -15 °C. It forms a perfectly regular dome and has dark and rough foliage. Its white flowers with a small yellow centre are 4 cm wide and bloom abundantly in spring.

1 Cistus x lusitanicus 'Decumbens': a variety with a spreading and compact habit, reaching 70 cm in height by 1 m wide. It has small oblong, narrow, dark green, sticky, and fragrant leaves. Its flowers are pure white, enhanced by small dark red spots and a heart of golden stamens. This variety can withstand temperatures down to -9/-10ºC at the peak.

The cistus in this collection are small shrubs with fast growth, but their lifespan rarely exceeds 12 years. They appreciate full sun and rocky, stony soils that do not retain water, both in winter and summer. Therefore, they should be planted in a large rockery, on a slope, or in a raised bed enriched with gravel. Plant them in a triangle, with a spacing of 1 m between each plant. To enhance this small bed, you can plant three Convolvulus sabatius, a ground cover with no specific requirements that blooms blue from spring to summer. For flowers over a longer period, opt for a prostrate rosemary 'Whitewater Silver'. Also consider lavenders and Teucriums to accompany your cistus: all these plants appreciate the same growing conditions.

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1 m
Habit Irregular, bushy
Growth rate fast

Flowering

Flower colour two-tone
Flowering time April to July
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour green
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased
Foliage description In hot weather the foliage is aromatic.

Botanical data

Genus

Cistus

Family

Cistaceae

Other common names

Rockrose, Gum Cistus

Origin

Mediterranean

Product reference21086

Planting and care

Cistus requires perfectly drained, stony or sandy, poor soil. Plant it after the last frost in the north and in September-October in hot and dry climates. It cannot thrive without sunlight and likes to have warm roots. Under these conditions, it is more resistant to cold and will live longer. In slightly colder regions, plant it in the warmest corner of the garden, in full sun, against a south-facing wall, in a stony or sandy slope or any substrate that does not retain moisture. Excess moisture will be fatal to it in winter, but also in summer, which is its period of vegetative rest. The combination of heat and humidity leads to the development of a fungus that attacks the plant's collar and is fatal to it. You can prune the stems after flowering to encourage the plant to branch out. Avoid severe pruning.

Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to October

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Border, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -9°C (USDA zone 8b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Planting density 1 per m2
Planting spacing Every 100 cm
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral
Soil type Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Dry soil, Very well drained, gravelly, stony

Care

Pruning instructions You can prune the stems after flowering to encourage the plants to branch out. Avoid severe pruning.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time July
Soil moisture Dry soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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