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  • 'C' > CISTUS >
    CISTUS
    © Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only.
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    CISTUS

    Commonly known as Rock rose

    All Flower JUN-AUG

    Genus of 19 species of evergreen shrubs from dry, stony soils in the Canary Islands, northern Africa, Turkey and southern Europe.

    Grown for their saucer-shaped, 5-petalled white to dark-pink flowers. Often short-lived.

    C. ladanifer (western Mediterranean) is the source of labdanum, a sticky brown resin used in history as incense. It was gathered by combing the fleeces of goats and sheep which grazed on the shrubs. In the present it is used in perfumery as a subsitute for ambergris (the sperm whale being endangered) and in the tobacco flavourings in electronic cigarette liquid.

    Full Plant Details - Sun/Soil & other attributes - Click to close
    • Flowering
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    • Good to know
      Each bloom lasts only one day. Good for coastal gardens.
    • Place of origin
      Canary Islands, northern Africa, Turkey, southern Europe.
    • Evergreen
    • Coastal / windswept
      Suitable for an open site slightly back from the sea
    • Dwarf shrub
      Typically only grows to a maximum of one or two feet in height but there will be some exceptions.
    • Medium shrub
      Typically grow to around 4-6 feet in height
    • Butterfly friendly
    View Planting Tips and Care Advice

    Varieties

    CISTUS x aguilarii 'Maculatus'
    White
     
    2 to 3 Litre
    £14.50
    Available late spring to early summer 2025
    Spring according to the Met Office is defined as March 1st - May 31st. Therefore late spring is mid-April onwards. This is not a guaranteed date but an estimate and subject to availability.
    Notify me when this plant is available to order
    CISTUS x argenteus 'Silver Pink
    Peach pink, very hardy
     
    2 to 3 Litre
    £14.50
    CISTUS x corbariensis
    Pure white
     
    2 to 3 Litre
    £14.50
    CISTUS ladanifer
    Common gum cistus
    White flowers with a dark red basal stain
     
    2 to 3 Litre
    £14.50
    Available late spring to early summer 2025
    Spring according to the Met Office is defined as March 1st - May 31st. Therefore late spring is mid-April onwards. This is not a guaranteed date but an estimate and subject to availability.
    Notify me when this plant is available to order
    CISTUS pulverulentus 'Sunset'
    Cerise pink flowers
     
    2 to 3 Litre
    £14.50
    Currently out of stock, please check again soon
    Notify me when this plant is available to order
    CISTUS x purpureus
    Rosy-crimson flowers with a maroon blotch at the base
     
    2 to 3 Litre
    £14.50

    Useful extras...

    Fertilisers & Feeds - Vitax
    A useful fertiliser suitable for use on a wide variety of plants. Q4 provides all the nutrients and trace elements essential for vigorous growth, abundant flowering and ripening of fruit.
    0.9 kg
    £6.00
    Unavailable
    2.5 kg
    £13.00
    Unavailable
    4.5 kg
    £25.00
    Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
    All-purpose organic concentrated seaweed feed that is a ready to use, derived from sustainable harvested kelp, that can be used on all outdoor and indoor plants, except acid loving plants. Perfect used in conjunction with Rootgrow™.
    1 ltr
    £8.50
    Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
    Recommended by the RHS. Contains Rootgrow™ mycorrhizal fungi. Suitable for all trees and shrubs (except rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers, cranberries and blueberries)
    Small - 60g sachet
    £3.00
    Medium - 150gm sachet
    £6.00
    Large - 360gram sachet
    £12.00
    Unavailable
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