About
Cistus albidus is a dense, evergreen shrub characterized by its oblong leaves, which are covered in a fine white felt, lending them a light green-grey hue. In summer, it produces papery flowers that are pale rose-lilac, each featuring a central golden-yellow eye.
About the genus
Cistus consists of evergreen shrubs featuring simple, opposite leaves. They produce bowl-shaped flowers with five petals that can be white, pink, or purplish. Each flower lasts for just one day, blooming over an extended summer period.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Rock garden, Mediterranean climate plants, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal
- Native to
- SW Europe
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in poor to moderately fertile soil in sheltered site in full sun. Usually lime tolerant, but can become chlorotic on very alkaline soils
- Pruning
- Pruning group 8 or pruning group 9. Generally does not respond well to hard renovation pruning
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed or from softwood cuttings in summer
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus