About
Cistus ladanifer L. is a perennial shrub characterized by its loose, open growth form. It features narrow, aromatic leaves that are sticky to the touch, displaying a dark green hue on the upper side and a greyish underside. The flowers can reach up to 10 cm across, presenting white petals adorned with a prominent red spot at the base of each petal.
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, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Coastal, Gravel garden, Mediterranean climate plants
- Native to
- SW Europe N Africa
- Fragrance
- Foliage
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Will grow well in poor soils but may become chlorotic with age on chalky soils. Needs a sheltered position in full sun
- Pruning
- Pruning group 8 or pruning group 9. Does not respond to hard pruning
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus