About
Cistus x picardianus is a sprawling evergreen shrub characterized by its oval to lanceolate grey-green foliage. Both the leaves and young stems emit a pleasant aroma when handled. In summer, the plant showcases pink, saucer-shaped flowers that feature a prominent cluster of yellow stamens at their center. This hybrid results from the crossing of C. chinamadensis and C. albidus, and is named to honor Franklin Picard.
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
- Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Mediterranean climate plants, Rock garden
- Fragrance
- Foliage
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grows best in well-drained, poor, sandy, soil in a sheltered site in full sun in which to grow successfully, particularly overwinter, when rainfall may be higher. Generally lime-tolerant, but may become chlorotic on very chalky soils
- Pruning
- Pruning group 8; they do not respond well to hard pruning so old, leggy plants are best replaced. Pinch back young plants after flowering to encourage a bushy habit
- Propagation
- Propagate by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus