RHS Garden Hyde Hall

Plant of the Month: May

Cistus populifolius @ Hyde Hall

Cistus populifolius comes from the Mediterranean region and thus loves to be grown in an open sunny situation, in a light free draining soil. At Hyde Hall we have a good collection of Cistus growing in the Dry Garden and this includes Cistus populifolius. The Dry Garden has been established on a hot, sunny, south-facing slope and the soil has had copious amounts of grit mixed with it to ensure it drains freely. The Dry Garden is now awakening from its winter dormancy, with the bright lime green flowers of the euphorbias heralding the new season that is now upon us. As the days draw out a wide range of shrubs and perennials soon burst into flower, including Cistus with their shades of white, pink and mauve flowers.

Cistus

This is a genus of about 20 species of evergreen shrubs from dry, sun-baked, stony or rocky soils in the Canary Islands, North Africa, Turkey and southern Europe.

Many Cistus species are threatened or endangered in the wild, since their habitats are under constant threat from developers and tourists.

In cultivation, they are valued for their ability to thrive in difficult, dry sites and for their saucer-shaped flowers, which have five broad, papery petals, in white, pink, mauve or purple, often blotched, and with yellow stamens.

The plants are often short-lived and each flower blooms for only one day, but the flowering period extends from early to late summer.

The leaves are opposite, fresh, and greyish to mid or dark green.

Several species exude an aromatic, viscous substance, on hot summer days, called ladanum. This has been collected since antiquity, and the methods for collection have changed very little. One way is allowing goats to graze among the bushes and then combing or cutting off the ladanum that sticks to the hair of their beards or legs. Alternatively, a wooden implement with attached thongs is drawn over the plant so that the ladanum sticks to the thongs. Only the thong material has changed over the centuries, from plant material, to leather, raffia and now plastic cord.

Ladanum is used in the manufacture of incense and perfume and forms part of the Holy Oil of the Greek Orthodox Church.

The name Cistus is derived from the Greek word kisthos or kistos, classical names for various species of cistus.

Cistus populifolius

This species is found over the Mediterranean region. It is a rounded shrub with small, hairy, dark-green, heart-shaped leaves, up to 9cm (3.5in) long.

The name populifolius means “poplar-leaved”.

In summer, cymes of two to five white flowers, 5cm (2in) across, with yellow centres are produced.

AGM

The RHS Floral B Committee awarded Cistus populifolius subsp. major an Award of Garden Merit and described it as: Strong-growing medium-sized evergreen shrub of erect habit. Leaves dark green, ovate, long-stalked. Flowers to 9cm wide, petals white with a yellow base; calyx conspicuous.

Cultivation

Grow in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil in a sheltered site, in full sun. Although fairly lime tolerant, Cistus populifolius may become chlorotic on very chalky soils.

Plant out when all danger of frost has passed. Pinch back young plants after flowering to encourage bushy growth.

Prune lightly after flowering, cutting back shoots that spoil symmetry. Dead-head regularly if practical. Remove dead or damaged growth in mid-spring.

Generally free from pests and diseases.

Propagation

Sow seed in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe, or in spring.

Root softwood or greenwood cuttings in summer.