Cistus
Rockrose
Rockroses hail from the Mediterranean region and fortunately prosper in our mild climate. These stalwart evergreens are famed for their conspicuous, papery single flowers, resembling wild rose blossoms. Though they last only a day, they arrive in such profusion, carpeting the ground beneath, that one can count on color for 2 or 3 months. Fast growing and appreciative of well-drained sites, they tolerate drought, poor soil, ocean winds, salt spray and even desert heat. Cistus vary from low spreaders to tall imposing bushes, and are terrific for informal hedging and screens.
From a distance, this Cistus’ 5 in. wide pure white flowers could easily be mistaken for those of a Romneya. Unusually large, frilly gold-centered blooms deliver a show-stopping presentation against cinnamon-colored stems and two-toned leathery leaves, which are a glistening dark green on top and silver beneath. Yielding a sticky sweetly fragrant resin known as Labdanum, vigorous growing ‘Bennett’s White’ can be planted with Lavandula ‘Ana Luisa’ in a dry Mediterranean garden where its amazing flowers and pleasant aroma will undoubtedly turn quite a few heads.
Blooms April–May
Size: 4' 0" – 5' 0" high x 4' 0" wide.
Hardy to zone 8.
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Other selections in this genus:
- Cistus x aguilarii ‘Maculatus’
- Cistus ‘Ann Baker’
- Cistus ‘Anne Palmer’
- Cistus creticus f. albus ‘Tania Compton’
- Cistus x dansereaui ‘Decumbens’
- Cistus x dansereaui ‘Jenkyn Place’
- Cistus ‘Jessamy Beauty’
- Cistus x lenis ‘Grayswood Pink’
- Cistus ‘Little Gem’
- Cistus monspeliensis ‘Vicar’s Mead’
- Cistus x oblongifolius ‘’
- Cistus palhinhaii ‘Red Eye’
- Cistus x pauranthus ‘Natacha’
- Cistus populifolius
- Cistus x purpureus ‘Alan Fradd’
- Cistus ‘Snow Fire’
- Cistus ‘Snow White’
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