The pink or white flowers look crumpled, as if pressed flat in a book, and each is short-lived, replaced by new ones from spring right into summer. Cistus is an evergreen Mediterranean shrub for hot, dry ground: give it full sun and soil that never stays wet, and it flowers for months with no treatment needed.
| Name | Cistus |
|---|---|
| Family | Cistaceae |
| Type | shrub |
| Height | 3 to 6 ½ feet (1 to 2 meters) |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Soil | rather poor |
| Foliage | evergreen |
| Flowering | mid to end spring |
The pink or white flowers it bears look crumpled and are very ornamental.
Cistus is a typical prairie shrub, very common in Mediterranean areas, and it will adapt well to similar mild, dry climates.
To correctly plant cistus, best plant in spring or fall in a spot that is protected from strong winds.
Propagation of your cistus is either via covered sowing of seeds in spring or cuttings in summer.
Making cuttings is the easiest and fastest method to propagate cistus.
Cistus is an easy shrub to care for, especially when well settled in. Cistus is extremely disease-resistant, no treatment will be necessary.
Pruning cistus
For the bearing to stay bushy or to reduce the size of the shrub, always prune at the end of the blooming season or at the end of winter if that season is cold in your area.
Watering cistus
You’ll only need to water in case of extended dry spell.
As for potted cistus, regular watering is a good idea. Water in summer when the surface of the soil is dry.
Cistus in winter
Protect your shrub with horticultural fleece if you’re planting it in a region where winters are harsh. It’ll hold down to 14°F (-10°C) as long as there isn’t too much moisture in the soil.
If you expect even colder frost spells, your alternative it to grow your cistus in pots and bring it inside away from freezing in winter.
Cistus asks very little, but each job has its moment in the year. Here is the whole cycle set out side by side.
| Task | When | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Planting | Spring or autumn | A sheltered spot out of strong winds, in full sun |
| Improving drainage | At planting time | A 16-inch (40 cm) gravel layer in the bottom of the hole |
| Sowing | Spring | Covered sowing of seed |
| Cuttings | Summer | 6-inch (15 cm) pieces of stems that have not flowered |
| Pruning | End of flowering, or end of winter in cold areas | Keeps the shrub bushy or reduces its size |
| Watering | Only in drought; summer for pots | Water potted plants when the surface is dry |
| Winter protection | Before hard frost | Horticultural fleece, or bring pots indoors |
Beyond this short list, nothing else is needed: the shrub is extremely disease-resistant.
All cistus want the same thing — full sun and sharply drained soil — but they differ widely in size, flower colour and habit. The table below sets out the most commonly sold kinds side by side.
| Variety | Flower | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Cistus × hybridus (C. × corbariensis) | White, yellow eye, pink buds | Hardiest choice, low hedging |
| Cistus × skanbergii | Pale pink, small, profuse | Airy border, seaside planting |
| Cistus × cyprius | White, crimson blotches | Large specimen shrub |
| Cistus × purpureus | Deep pink, maroon blotch | Sunny border, gravel bed |
| Cistus × dansereaui ‘Decumbens’ | White, red blotches | Ground cover, bank tops |
| Cistus salviifolius ‘Prostratus’ | White, yellow centre | Edging, rock garden, walls |
Two named cultivars worth seeking out are Cistus × dansereaui ‘Decumbens’ and Cistus salviifolius ‘Prostratus’, which offer the same crumpled pink or white flowers, constantly renewed from spring to summer, and cope with poor, stony soil in full sun without any treatment.
Cistus bestows us with abundant flowers from the beginning of spring up to summer. Although each single flower lives a short life, they constantly are renewed during the entire blooming season.
This shrub native to the Mediterranean area generally tops out at about 3 feet (1 meter), but some species can reach 6 ½ feet (2 meters) (Cistus populifolius).
Cistus is used in the worlds of cosmetology and perfume, because it flattens wrinkles. Its essential oil is used for the benefits it shares to skin.
Interesting varieties or cultivars are Cistus monspeliensis, parviflorus, ladaniferus, ‘Silver Pink’ and salvifolius.
Mulch will protect your cistus when winters are cold and hinder weed growth.
