Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Shrubs

Cistus creticus subsp. eriocephalus

A tender, evergreen shrub, possibly borderline hardy in the mildest areas, with small, grey-green fuzzy leaves. In summer it has a succession of lilac-pink flowers with five petals, surrounding a golden centre. This plant is being investigated for its medicinal potential

Synonyms

Cistus creticus var. tauricus
Cistus incanus subsp. tauricus

Save to My plants

Buy this plant

Plant nurseries
1 suppliers

Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Cistaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy, Spreading branched
Genus: Cistus are evergreen shrubs with simple, opposite leaves and 5-petalled, bowl-shaped, white, pink or purplish flowers, each lasting a single day, over a long period in summer
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Medit. to Caucasus

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a well-drained spot including on poor chalky soils. Needs a sheltered position in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Banks and slopes

Pruning

Pruning group 10

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.