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.

Further Reading....
  • Evergreen
  • 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
  • Additional Features
    Good to know
    Each bloom lasts only one day. Good for coastal gardens.
    Place of origin
    Canary Islands, northern Africa, Turkey, southern Europe.
  • Garden Location/Conditions
    Coastal / windswept
    Suitable for an open site slightly back from the sea
  • Wildlife
    Butterfly friendly
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Buy Varieties of CISTUS

 AWARD
CISTUS x aguilarii 'Maculatus'

CISTUS x aguilarii 'Maculatus'

Rock rose

white

 
MULTIBUY Any 3+ for £12.00 each
£14.50 each 
Notify me when this plant is available to order
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.
CISTUS x argenteus 'Silver Pink

CISTUS x argenteus 'Silver Pink

Rock rose

peach pink, very hardy

 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant - UK Delivery Only Gift-wrapping available
MULTIBUY Any 3+ for £12.00 each
£14.50 each 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant
CISTUS x corbariensis

CISTUS x corbariensis

Rock rose

pure white

 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant - UK Delivery Only Gift-wrapping available
MULTIBUY Any 3+ for £12.00 each
£14.50 each 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant
CISTUS creticus

CISTUS creticus

Rock Rose

purple to rose flowers with a yellow centre and hairy stems

 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant - UK Delivery Only Gift-wrapping available
MULTIBUY Any 3+ for £12.00 each
£14.50 each 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant
CISTUS crispus

CISTUS crispus

Curled-leaved rock rose

pink-purple

 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant - UK Delivery Only Gift-wrapping available
MULTIBUY Any 3+ for £12.00 each
£14.50 each 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant
 AWARD
CISTUS x dansereaui 'Decumbens'

CISTUS x dansereaui 'Decumbens'

Rock rose

white flowers with or without crimson blotches

 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant - UK Delivery Only Gift-wrapping available
MULTIBUY Any 3+ for £12.00 each
£14.50 each 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant
CISTUS ladanifer

CISTUS ladanifer

Common gum cistus, Labdanum

white flowers with a dark red basal stain

 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant - UK Delivery Only Gift-wrapping available
MULTIBUY Any 3+ for £12.00 each
£14.50 each 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant
 AWARD
CISTUS x obtusifolius 'Thrive'

CISTUS x obtusifolius 'Thrive'

Rock rose

tough, evergreen shrub with yellow-centred white flowers

 
MULTIBUY Any 3+ for £12.00 each
£14.50 each 
Notify me when this plant is available to order
Estimated availability autumn 2024 Any time SEPT-DEC - Not yet confirmed. Could be any time between September and December.
 AWARD
CISTUS pulverulentus 'Sunset'

CISTUS pulverulentus 'Sunset'

Rock rose

cerise pink flowers

 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant - UK Delivery Only Gift-wrapping available
MULTIBUY Any 3+ for £12.00 each
£14.50 each 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant
 AWARD
CISTUS x purpureus

CISTUS x purpureus

Rock rose

rosy-crimson flowers with a maroon blotch at the base

 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant - UK Delivery Only Gift-wrapping available
MULTIBUY Any 3+ for £12.00 each
£14.50 each 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant
CISTUS x purpureus 'Alan Fradd'

CISTUS x purpureus 'Alan Fradd'

Rock rose

white flowers with red marks at the base of each petal. Often has some flowers which revert in part to rosy-crimson

 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant - UK Delivery Only Gift-wrapping available
MULTIBUY Any 3+ for £12.00 each
£14.50 each 
Gift Wrapping available on this plant
CISTUS x skanbergii

CISTUS x skanbergii

Rock rose

clear pink

 
MULTIBUY Any 3+ for £12.00 each
£14.50 each 
Notify me when this plant is available to order
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.

Useful extras...