About
Cistus ladanifer 'Paladin' is an upright, evergreen shrub that can reach heights of up to 2 meters. Its leaves are linear to lance-shaped, sticky, and dark green on the upper side, while the undersides display a grey-green hue. When temperatures rise, the foliage emits a pleasant aroma. In summer, it bears single white flowers measuring up to 10 cm across, each featuring dark red markings at the base of the petals.
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
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Patio and container plants, Rock garden
- Fragrance
- Foliage
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in poor to moderately fertile, well drained soil, in a sheltered position in full sun. Plant out when danger of frosts has passed. Generally lime-tolerant, but may become chlorotic on very chalky soils
- Pruning
- Pruning group 8 or 9. Pinch back after flowering to maintain a bushy habit; does not respond well to hard pruning
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed sown as soon as ripe, or by softwood cuttings in summer
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus