Brown-Eyed Rock Rose
Cistus ladanifer maculatus
Sturdy shrub considered one of the showiest. Single white flowers with crimson spots displayed in profusion in summer. Excellent for dry banks, in rock gardens or an accent plant. Evergreen.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | SIS-tus la-DAH-ni-fer mak-u-LA-tus |
| Key feature: | Firescaping Plant |
| Plant type: | Shrub |
| Garden style: | Mediterranean |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 7 - 10 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Water Needs: | Once established, needs only occasional watering. |
| Average landscape size: | Moderate grower to 3 to 5 ft. tall and wide. |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Flower attributes: | Fragrant, Long Bloom Season, Showy Flowers |
| Special features: | Attracts Butterflies, Waterwise, Year-round Interest |
| Landscape uses: | Erosion Control, Firescaping/Fire Wise, Mass Planting, Rock Garden |
| Flower color: | White |
| Blooms: | Summer |
| Foliage color: | Gray-green |
| Item no.: | 2455 |
| Retailers for this plant: |
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. For a formal appearance, shear annually after flowering. Pruning time: summer after flowering.
Design Ideas
Excellent shrub for dry gardens thriving on banks, slopes and open areas. Beautiful planted in small irregular groups in conjunction with rock surfacing and boulders. Stands nicely with arid western natives as well as the Mediterraneans of its homeland. Evergreen beauty for Spanish style homes with stucco exteriors as well as Craftsman bungalows.
Companion Plants
Cistus thrives under the same conditions as Lemon Leigh Spanish Lavender, (Lavandula stoechas 'Lemon Leigh'), Little Ollie Dwarf Olive, (Olea europea 'Montra'), Tuscan Blue Rosemary, (Rosmarinus officinalis 'Tuscan Blue') and Coronation Gold Yarrow, (Achillea x 'Coronation Gold').
History
This rockrose is among the recognized species native to the Mediterranean and the richest in commercially harvested oil. The genus Cistus was named after the original Greek name for the plant which is indigenous there. With twenty species native to this region there's much debate because demand for rockrose oil in ancient times caused the plants to be redistributed by growers. In the 1820s the rockrose enjoyed a rise in interest so that 112 varieties were known. Edouard Bernet of Antibes became a specialist and over fifteen years from 1860 to 1875 increased that number to 234. Most of these have disappeared with the demand for this oil.
Lore
The oil of rockrose was called "vegetable ambergris" because it was an ancient alternative to the rare whale ambergris treasured by the perfume and incense trade.
Sturdy shrub considered one of the showiest. Single white flowers with crimson spots displayed in profusion in summer. Excellent for dry banks, in rock gardens or an accent plant. Evergreen.
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. For a formal appearance, shear annually after flowering. Pruning time: summer after flowering.
Design Ideas
Excellent shrub for dry gardens thriving on banks, slopes and open areas. Beautiful planted in small irregular groups in conjunction with rock surfacing and boulders. Stands nicely with arid western natives as well as the Mediterraneans of its homeland. Evergreen beauty for Spanish style homes with stucco exteriors as well as Craftsman bungalows.
Companion Plants
Cistus thrives under the same conditions as Lemon Leigh Spanish Lavender, (Lavandula stoechas 'Lemon Leigh'), Little Ollie Dwarf Olive, (Olea europea 'Montra'), Tuscan Blue Rosemary, (Rosmarinus officinalis 'Tuscan Blue') and Coronation Gold Yarrow, (Achillea x 'Coronation Gold').
History
This rockrose is among the recognized species native to the Mediterranean and the richest in commercially harvested oil. The genus Cistus was named after the original Greek name for the plant which is indigenous there. With twenty species native to this region there's much debate because demand for rockrose oil in ancient times caused the plants to be redistributed by growers. In the 1820s the rockrose enjoyed a rise in interest so that 112 varieties were known. Edouard Bernet of Antibes became a specialist and over fifteen years from 1860 to 1875 increased that number to 234. Most of these have disappeared with the demand for this oil.
Lore
The oil of rockrose was called "vegetable ambergris" because it was an ancient alternative to the rare whale ambergris treasured by the perfume and incense trade.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | SIS-tus la-DAH-ni-fer mak-u-LA-tus |
| Key feature: | Firescaping Plant |
| Plant type: | Shrub |
| Garden style: | Mediterranean |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 7 - 10 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Water Needs: | Once established, needs only occasional watering. |
| Average landscape size: | Moderate grower to 3 to 5 ft. tall and wide. |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Flower attributes: | Fragrant, Long Bloom Season, Showy Flowers |
| Special features: | Attracts Butterflies, Waterwise, Year-round Interest |
| Landscape uses: | Erosion Control, Firescaping/Fire Wise, Mass Planting, Rock Garden |
| Flower color: | White |
| Blooms: | Summer |
| Foliage color: | Gray-green |
| Item no.: | 2455 |
