This vigorous and floriferous larger arching Cistus has small flowers just 4cm wide but every white flower has a maroon basal blotch around a yellow center. This is one of the most prolific Rockroses for quantity and length of flowers. Masses of small flowers are intricate and a shrub in full sun is an amazing tapestry of color until about 4pm when all the flower petals drop at once. Excellent hardiness to cold as one of its hybrid parents is the very cold hardy Cistus monspeliensis. Evergreen leaves are long and thin and sweet with the resiny perfume of sweet balsam. This resin (Ladinum) that covers all the foliage imparts a certain amount of fire retardance. To 4′ x 4′ tall and arching in full sun and average soil with regular water to establish. In subsequent years it can take much less. Normal deer resistance and rabbit resistance is good. Dense habit avoids splitting and flailing. Excellent shrub for dry gardens, areas beyond the sprinkler. A great shrub for rural areas- very tough. Very well adapted to our climate. The calyx which remains turns a vivd red and holds in late summer and autumn.
Genus: Cistus
Superior low growing rockrose with masses of flowers for up to two months in late spring to early summer. So profuse are the daily flowers that they obscure the foliage, until about 4 pm and then they drop all of their petals at once. Gordon averages about 32″ tall x 4′ wide in 5 years and continue to gain width after that. The adorable flowers are 2″ across and each white petal is separate form the other giving an airy gap to the flowers. A brilliant maroon nectary guide at the base of each petal surrounding a yellow center. This low and spreading habit naturally accomodates snow and ice and there is less breakage with this cultivar. It has been a cold hardy long term performer in the Willamette Valley. Deep green foliage has a resinous perfume and takes on red tints in winter. Water to establish the first season and then about once every two weeks during summer in subsequent years. Average un-improved soils, including clay soil, and its low spreading habit is ideal for slopes. Extremely floriferous selection. Moderate deer and rabbit resistance. Very drought adapted when established. Very good performance on sandy soils at the Oregon coast and thrives there.
Cistus libanoticum ssp. major
Unique in that the leaves are thin and willow-like they still harbor plenty of waxy perfume. A somewhat gnarled looking shrub over time with plenty of character. In May-July 6″ long stems erupt from the top of the shrub, elongate and produce clusters of large pure white flowers. Blooms for an extended period but each open flower lasts only one day but is replaced by a steady supply. Full sun and average to enriched soil. Water to establish then less to none in subsequent years. In time it develops a shredding, twisted, gray trunk. Moderate deer resistance. Aromatic on warm days. Mixes very well with Arctostaphylos as well as Ceanothus. A really great rock rose. Tp 3′ x 3′ in 5 years.
Cistus x ladanifer ‘Blanche’
Very large growing deep green aromatic Cistus with enormous clear white flowers for an extended period in May-July. The flowers are so large they are reminiscent of the Matilija Poppy (Romneya coulteri) and they virtually obscure the foliage in bloom. To 8′ tall x 8′ wide very quickly. The winding and shredding trunks that develop are cinnamon brown and have a wild, gnarly appearance with age. Excellent cold hardiness especially if you avoid rich, amended soils. Native unimproved soils that drain are best. Handles clay soils well especially if on a slope. Completely drought adapted, no summer water is required. The resinous deep green foliage emits a sweet balsam aroma on hot days.
Cistus x platysephalus
Excellent performance- including superior cold hardiness and incredibly floriferous is why we grow this moderately large spreading rockrose. Grass green linear foliage in dense and always fresh on an upright and spreading shrub. Grows in tiers which is pretty and displays the copious single white flowers well. Flowers appear daily from May to July. To 3′ x 5′ and low and spreading initially then lifting itself up gradually. Excellent cold hardiness. We’ve tried many, many Cistus planted out at our Wholesale Nursery site in Wilsonville- at least one zone colder than the city of Portland. This carefree shrub has sailed through 5ºF multiple times with NO DAMAGE and thrives in clay soil on a hillside with absolutely no summer water. As with all Cistus avoid overly enriched soil and too much summer water. Neglect is this tough shrubs friend. Moderate deer resistance. This is confused in the trade and may also show up from time to time as ‘White Gem’- its not.
Cistus x pulverulentus ‘Sunset’
Compact low growing Rockrose with spectacular hot magenta flowers from May to July and sporadically after that. The large flowers (3″) cover the handsome felted light green foliage. To 2′ x 3′ in 6 years- wider with time. Full sun and poor to average well drained soil. Light to little summer water. Hardier to cold and more compact if you avoid rich soil. Tough little evergreen plant. Protected locations like a hot south facing hillside are ideal. Scattered flowers in late summer to early autumn.
Cistus x ‘Snowfire’
A large growing improved rockrose with huge white flowers with a large red basal blotch on each petal. Deep green foliage takes on maroon tints in cold weather. To 4′ tall and 6′ wide forming a dense outline. Blooms May to July in a daily procession of flowers. Each blossom is 3″ across. Excellent cold hardiness to 5ºF or lower- adaptable to the coldest western Oregon gardens. Grows quickly in average, well drained soil Avoid overly enriched sites which will decrease cold hardiness and lead to rank growth. Lean conditions produce the most dense and cold hardy shrub. Great for rough areas in the back ground. Completely drought adapted- no summer water required. Give it room to spread. I’ve had great success with this shrub on a hillside of rocky clay soil that is strictly unwatered in summer. It and all Cistus present the ability to compete with invasive weeds such as introduced grasses. These invasives quickly out compete many things, but not Cistus. Water deep and infrequently or once established not at all. Rock roses can be prone to breaking in ice/snow. Usually, it is just cosmetic and the plant recovers. Our selections we have observed through many snow events (including a 16″ fall in 2008) and have observed no breakage. One of the very best Cistus selections.
Cistus x dansereau ‘Jenkyn Place’
After growing a whole bunch of Cistus this variety has risen to the top. Upright growing deep green evergreen shrub to 5′ tall and 5′ wide. The thin deep green leaves have the sweet fragrance of balsam. Beginning in May a constant procession of 3″ white flowers with a red basal blotch on each petal. Each flower lasts a day but there is a constant supply waiting in the wings. Full sun and average well drained soil. Tolerates clay soils well. If you give it a touch of supplemental summer water it will often extend the bloom season all the way until September. Exceptionally cold hardy. One of the finest rock roses.
Cistus x obtusifolius
Compact white rockrose is a fantastic hybrid that gives this shrub several outstanding attributes. A dense compact habit heavily clothed in small deep green leaves. To just 3′ tall and 4′ wide forming a dome. This dense habit resists splitting in ice and snow. From May to July a massive constant procession of pure white flowers. Often bloom is so heavy that it obscures the foliage. Each flower lasts just a day but is replaced by a seemingly never ending supply. In autumn the spent flower calyxes turn bright orange red and are showy- especially when backlit by the sun. Great landscape shrub for hot sites in any well drained soil that does not become boggy. Avoid overly enriched soils for a more cold hardy and dense growing plant. Easy Cold hardy to near 5ºF. Little to no summer water.
Cistus x canescens ‘Albus’
A tough, cold hardy, and spectacular rockrose in bloom. Gray foliage is a great backdrop to the huge (3″) pure white flowers with a central zone of yellow stamens. The flowers appear daily but en masse for weeks in April to early June. Moderate growing evergray shrub to 3′ x 5′ in any well drained soil. Extremely drought adapted and requires NO supplemental irrigation when established. Avoid overly enriched soils which will lead to rank growth and quite a bit less cold hardiness. At our wholesale nursery this wonderful shrub has not suffered cold damage down to 5ºF. Lean conditions increase hardiness. Hellstrips, low water garden sections. Hot dry biomes. A great rockrose.