Cistus

Cistus, along with Helianthemum, Halimium and Tuberaria, are members of the rock rose family. They are native perennials of the Mediterranean, North African and Middle Eastern regions.

These small evergreen shrubs can be found all over the garrigue here which is what convinced me to plant them in my garden. They bloom mostly in April and May with white, rose, pink, or yellow flowers.

Most Cistus work well on dry chalky, well-drained soil, some need acidic or at least neutral soil. They are all quite drought-resistant. Some of them will simply shed their leaves if the summer gets too dry. They can even survive fires. Apparently some Cistus species emit a type of oil that can cause them to combust spontaneously – although probably and preferably not in regular garden environments. Some also form mutually beneficial symbiotic associations with various fungi to help them survive in inhospitable soil environments.

Added bonus: most Cistus are “allelopathic”, meaning that they inhibit the growth of other plants (or “weeds”) close to them.

They like full sun exposure, some of them grow well also in half shade and as a native of the garrigue most of them can tolerate root pressure from trees like pines or oaks.

They are hardy to about -12 or 15 degrees in well-drained soil.

I am not quite sure anymore about all the Cistus I planted as the digger killed one or two of them during the garden re-do last fall. Here’s what I’m sure of:

Cistus pulverulentus

Hybrid of albidus and crispus with grey-green leaves. Hot pink flowers from Mai to July. Forms a flat shrub of about 50 cm height and 125 cm width. Full sun or half shade.

Cistus skanbergii

Hybrid of monspeliensis and parviflorus. Light pink flowers in April and May, forms a round mound of 70 x 100 cm. Full sun.

Cistus lenis Grayswood Pink

Hybrid of sintenisii and parviflorus. Grey-green leaves and low ground-covering habit of 25 x 100 cm. Light pink flowers from March until May. Hauteur : 20 à 30 cm. Sun of half shade.

Cistus florentinus Tramontane

Hybrid of monspeliensis and salviifolius ‘Prostratus’. Deep green leaves and low ground-covering habit of 25 x 80 cm. White flowers in April and May. sun or half-shade.

I should have three more white Cistus but as of this moment I’m unsure which ones are left: Cistus skanbergii albiflorus, Cistus florentinus Béziers or Cistus monspeliensis Cami de Cavall. Time will tell.

There are countless other beautiful varieties of Cistus but I won’t plant anymore since the spring-flowering garden is already more than filled.