Cistus albidus

RHS Plant Profile

white-leaved rock rose

RHS

Shrubs

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
1 Suppliers

A compact, bushy, evergreen shrub with oblong, white-felted leaves that gives them a pale green-grey appearance. Papery flowers borne in summer are pale rose-lilac with golden-yellow centres

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: 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): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Cistaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
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: SW Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in poor to moderately fertile soil in sheltered site in full sun. Usually lime tolerant, but can become chlorotic on very alkaline soils

Propagation

Propagate by seed or from softwood cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Rock garden
Mediterranean climate plants
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 8 or pruning group 9. Generally does not respond well to hard renovation pruning

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus