Cistus

( SISS - tuss )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Rockrose, this genus of shrubs requires full sun and little to no water, making it a great candidate for water-wise gardens. Flowers will attract butterflies and bees to the landscape. Native to the Mediterranean, these plants produce a flower show for about a month or more into the early summer and may bloom from time-to-time throughout the rest of the year. Soft-green to greyish foliage and a mounded form adds interest to landscapes, even when flowers are not present. These shrubs are great candidates for fire-hazard areas, and are also used for erosion-control. They are at home in rock-gardens, in rough areas around driveways, and in wildflower gardens. Plant the, near walkways so that garden visitors can enjoy the aroma of the foliage.

Cistus Species and Varietals

The genus Cistus includes about 20 distinct species and is the type genus member of the family Cistaceae. Rockrose grows best on USDA hardiness zones 6-10 or Sunset growing zones 4-9 and 14-24, though this can vary depending on the species cultivated. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Cistus x aguilarii (Rock Rose, Large White Rockrose, Aguilar Rockrose)
This hybrid variety shrub grows to be 6 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide at maturity. Leaves are green, often with crinkled edges. 'Maculatus' (also called Spotted White Rockrose) is the main cultivar for this hybrid group, and is a perfect choice for rock gardens. It produces white flowers with wine-colored blotches and yellow centers. These hybrids do well when grown in USDA hardiness zones 8-10.

Cistus albidus (White-Leaved Rockrose, Grey-Leaved Cistus, White Rockrose, )
Grows to 4 feet tall and 8 feet wide, with furry grey leaves and bright purple-pink blooms. Flowers in fall as well as spring-summer. This species is native to southwestern Europe and western areas of North Africa and grows well in USDA hardiness zones 7-10. Considered invasive in some areas of California.

Cistus x argentius (Rock Rose, Silver Pink Rockrose, Gum Cistus, Rock Rose Silver Pink)
Grows to 3 feet high and 5 feet wide with silvery-grey to greenish foliage. These shrubs grow well in USDA hardiness zones 7-10. 'Silver Pink' is the main cultivar of this hybrid group, and produces apricot-pink flowers.

Cistus x crispatus (Warley Rose Rockrose)
These hybrid shrubs grow well in USDA hardiness zones 7b-10, and reach up to 15 inches tall and 30 inches wide at maturity. They have a low-mounded, sprawling habit and produce pink flowers and grey-green leaves. Cultivar 'Warley Rose' (pictured) grows to 2 feet high 4 feet wide with pink flowers.

Cistus crispus (Wrinkle-Leaved Rockrose, Curly Pink Rockrose)
Grows to 3 feet high and 5 feet wide, with silvery-gray green leaves and purplish-pink flowers. Variety 'Decanso' grows to 1 foot high and 4 feet wide, and has cerise-colored flowers with yellow centers. This species is native to south-western Europe and western North Africa and grows well in USDA hardiness zones 8-10. It is considered an invasive species in California.

Cistus x hybridus (Cistus corbariensis) (White Rockrose, Rock Rose)
This very commonly grown garden ornamental grows to reach 3-4 feet tall and 4-8 feet wide and grey-green at maturity. Leaves are fragrant on warm days. Flowers are white with yellow centers. These hybrid shrubs grow well in USDA hardiness zones 7-10 or Sunset zones 4-9 or 14-24.

Cistus x incanus (Cistus villosus) (Hoary Rock Rose)
This is a bushy species, growing to 3-5 feet tall and wide at maturity. Hoary Rock Rose grows well in USDA hardiness zones 8-11, and produces purplish-pink flowers. Varieties include 'LASCA Select' (3 feet tall and 5-8 feet wide with mauve blooms and grey-green leaves); Cistus incanus creticus (Cistus creticus) is similar, with wavy-edged leaves. This hybrid is considered an invasive species in California.

Cistus ladanifer (Crimson-Spot Rockrose, Gum Rockrose. Common Gum Cistus, Brown Eyed Rockrose, Labdanum)
Compact grower, reaches 3-5 feet tall and wide. Good hedge or background shrub for dry areas of the yard. Leaves are fragrant and dark-green and flowers are white with a dark crimson spot at each petal base. Varietals include 'Blanche' (8-12 feet tall, 6-8 feet wide with white blooms), and 'Bennett's White' (with crepey petals, good for a hedge or background shrub in dry areas). This species is considered to be invasive in South Africa, and has naturalized in California and New Zealand. It grows well in USDA hardiness zones 7-10.

Cistus laurifolius (Laurel-Leaved Rock Rose, Laurel-Leaved Cistus)
This shrub has an erect growth and dark green leaves with pale undersides. Flowers bloom in clusters of three or more and are white. Individual shrubs can grow to be 4-6 feet tall and wide at maturity. This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 7-10b.

Cistus x lenis (Sun Rose)
Plants in this species grow to be 3 feet high and 5 feet wide, and have a mounding habit. Leaves are grey-green. Pink flowers have yellow centers. 'Grayswood Pink' (pictured) is a choice garden cultivar. Sun Rose grows well in USDA hardiness zones 6a-10b.

Cistus purpureus (Orchid Rockrose, Purple Rockrose)
This species grows best in USDA hardiness zones 7-10 or Sunset zones 3b-9 and 14-24, and is a compact variety (tp 4 feet tall and wide). Leaves are dark green on top and grey and hairy underneath. Flowers are purple-red with a red spot at the base of each petal, and 3 inches in diameter. This species is considered invasive in southern California.

Cistus salvifolius (Sageleaf Rockrose, Salvia Cistus, Gallipoli Rose, White Sageleaf Rockrose)
This is a wide-spreading shrub that grows 2 feet high and 6 feet wide, growing well in USDA hardiness zones 8-10. Lighter grey-green crinkled leaves and white flowers with a yellow spot at the base. It is a profuse bloomer. Cultivar 'Prostratus' is ideal for use as a groundcover. This species is considered invasive in California.

Cistus x skanbergii (Dwarf Pink Rockrose, Pink Rockrose, Skanberg's Rock Rose)
Grows to three feet tall and eight feet wide. Has grey-green leaves and a profuse bloom of pink flowers. Dwarf Pink Rockrose grows well in USDA hardiness zones 8-10, and is considered an invasive species in some areas of southern California.

Caring for Cistus

Plant Cistus shrubs and groundcovers in a space that receives full sun; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day. When these plants are grown in lower light, they will not flower as profusely and can become leggy. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). They thrive in somewhat sandy soils. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly and deeply as they establish a strong root system in their new home; they take about a year to acclimate fully. Once established, they are considered drought-tolerant plants and can get by on rainwater alone for much of the year with supplemental waterings in extended periods of drought.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flowers to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Pinch back plants when they are young to encourage a bushier habit. These shrubs can last for 10 to 15 years in the landscape before needing to be replaced.

Growing Cistus in Containers
Cistus shrubs are wonderful in the ground, but can also be grown in containers. Dwarf or prostrate cultivars are perfect for container cultivation. Choose a container that is at least a few inches wider and deeper than the nursery pot or root ball. Ensure that the pot has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly as the plant establishes itself in its new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Cistus plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Pinch back young plants to encourage a bushier habit. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot.

Propagation

Cistus can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Rockrose, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Cistus by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagated shrub, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Cistus by Seed

Keep in mind that the Rockrose plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Rockrose plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Cistus seeds are contained inside seed pods that are left behind after flowers fade.

Cistus seeds are tiny; take care to contain them.

Problems and Pests

Some species of Cistus are considered invasive in certain areas; check with local authorities before planting. Cistus plants can have issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape: