cistus

The cistus they are ornamental shrubs that have simple flowers, but no less beautiful than those of other plants. Its colors are varied, although white and pink predominate. During spring and summer is when they produce them, so it is in those seasons when they will most beautify our garden or patio.

These plants they are grown indistinctly both in soil and in pots, since apart from the fact that their height is not exaggerated, they tolerate moderate pruning; but, to tell you the truth, I don't think you ever need to prune them. As you will be able to see, its size is rather small, and it will be more so if you have it in a container.

Origin and characteristics of the Cistus

The Cistus, also known as rockrose, jaguarzo or steppe, They are evergreen shrubs that form the Mediterranean garrigues. If you have doubts about what a garrigue is, you should know that it is an ecoregion where plants live in degraded soil, either by the action of man or by fire. They tend to replace oak groves, although in the case of Cistus, it is more common for it to be holm oak groves since oak trees do not like the Mediterranean climate too much.

If we go to the characteristics, we are talking about bushes whose height does not exceed 2 meters. The stems grow more or less straight, and small green leaves sprout from them. The flowers are made up of five large petals, and are also hermaphroditic. These produce a lot of pollen, which serves as food for a large number of pollinating insects, such as bees that produce rockrose honey. The fruit is a capsule that opens into 5-10 parts as soon as it ripens, thus releasing the seeds.

Main species

The genus Cistus is made up of about 20 species, the most recommended for cultivation being those that you will be able to see below:

cistus corbariensis 

El cistus corbariensis it is a compact shrub that is 1,5 meters high. Its leaves are dark green, although they can be somewhat reddish in winter. The flowers are white and they have a yellow center.

cistus creticus

The Cistus creticus is a shrub about 30 to 140 inches tall that produces hairy green leaves. Its flowers are simple, pink, and sprout at the end of each stem, grouping into a terminal inflorescence.

incanus cistus

The Cistus incanus is a hybrid between cistus crispus y albidus cyst, whose real scientific name is Cistus x incanus. It is a shrub about 1 meter high that has characteristic gray-green leaves and pink or purple flowers.

Cistus labdanum (Synonym of cistus ladanifer)

El Cistus labdanum o cistus ladanifer It is a plant known as sticky rockrose or labdanum that reaches a height of 2,5 meters. Its leaves are green and elongated in shape, and they are sticky because they are covered by an oil called labdanum, which has an intense smell. The flowers are white and they measure about 10 centimeters in diameter.

Cistus laurifolius

El Cistus laurifolius It is a 2 meter high shrub known as mountain steppe or mountain rockrose. It is very similar to the previous species, but it has a smaller bearing and because of its leaves, which are wider and a little less sticky. Its flowers are also white, and they measure about 5 centimeters in diameter.

Cistus purpureus 

El Cistus purpureus is a hybrid shrub of cistus creticus y cistus ladanifer. It is a 1,25 meter tall shrub, with elongated, dark green leaves. Its flowers are quite large, about 6-7 centimeters in diameter, and pink with purple spots around the center.

Cistus salviifolius

El Cistus salviifolius, known as Moorish jagz, black rockrose or black steppe, it is a shrub up to 1 meter high. The leaves are hairy on both sides, green. Its flowers are white, with a yellow center.

Cistus skanbergi

The Cistus skanbergi is a hybrid between Cistus parviflorus y cistus monspeliensis, so its true scientific name is Cistus x skanbergi. Its approximate height is 1,5 meters, although it may be the case that it grows only 60 centimeters. The leaves are elongated or oblong, grayish-green to silver in color. Produces large numbers of pale pink flowers.

What are the care they require?

If you want to grow some Cistus in your garden, we recommend that you take into account what we are going to explain below:

Location

They are plants that They must be directly exposed to the sun so that they grow and develop normally. In the case that they are grown in shade, their stems would become weak and could not flower, so it is important to avoid putting them in places where there is not enough light.

Earth

As we said at the beginning, they grow on degraded soils. This can be very interesting, as it means that they settle for very little. Yes indeed, prefer clay soils, and with good drainage.

If you are going to choose to grow them in pots, use without problems a universal substrate that is of quality (like this one that they sell here). Check the label to see if it contains perlite; If it doesn't, you will have to mix it (30% perlite will be enough).

Irrigation

As are Mediterranean plants, we can take it for granted that they resist drought. Even so, we have to be clear that it is not the same to grow them in pots, where the space and therefore the amount of land they have are limited, than in the ground.

In pots they will have to be watered at least 2 times a week during the summer. In autumn-winter they will be watered approximately once a week.

By contrast, if it is in the garden, they will be watered once or twice a week during the first twelve months, but later the waterings can be spaced.

Subscriber

The subscriber will be recommended but not mandatory if it is in the garden, and very necessary if it is grown in a pot.. As fertilizers it is advisable to use liquids in spring and summer, since as they are months in which it grows faster it needs more urgently "food"; slow release fertilizer can be added once a month in autumn and winter.

Follow the instructions for use so as not to "burn" their roots, since for example liquid fertilizers or fertilizers (such as the one they sell here), in general, they must first be diluted in water so that they are properly absorbed by the root system of the plant; If applied directly, you will suffer significant damage.

The slow-release ones, on the other hand, are usually taken directly, but even so, you have to know very well what amount is recommended by the manufacturer because there may also be a risk of overdose. And that will only be known if you read the label on the container.

Pruning

Will be done late winter. Stems that are damaged, broken, or diseased must be removed, as well as reducing the length of those that have grown excessively.

Transplant

Whenever we talk about plants that are healthy, they will be transplanted when the last frosts have passed. For example, in Spain this would be in March if the weather is very mild, or April if it is cooler.

The pot change will also be done in those months, every 3 or 4 years. Check to see if the roots are sticking out of the drainage holes, or if the plant has already filled the entire container.

Rusticity

Cistus are very rustic plants. Withstands frosts down to -10ºC, as well as temperatures of up to 40ºC.

What did you think of the Cistus?