Planting a rockrose in a pot

Which varieties of cistus to grow in pots?

A priori, all cistus can be grown in pots or containers. Your choice will depend on the colour of the flowers: do you prefer a multitude of small pale pink flowers? Choose Cistus skanbergii. If you prefer large bright pink flowers, opt for the Cretan rockrose Cistus creticus or the purple rockrose Cistus purpureus. Both have a size of about 1 m in all directions, but their growth in pots will be less than in open ground, especially if the pot is not of a very large volume. The Cistus corbariensis ‘Rospico’, a variegated Corbières rockrose, has beautiful crinkled foliage variegated with cream and pure white flowers with a golden heart. You should also orient your choice according to the flowering period: most have a spring flowering, but others can be more summer-flowering, blooming from June to August, like the Cistus pulverulentus.

Finally, refine your choice based on the size of your future cistus: a bushy and upright habit to add some height to your containers? Choose Cistus argenteus ‘Peggy Sammons’, which flowers in May-June and can grow up to 1.20 m. A more compact and spreading habit to fill a large wooden container? Opt for Cistus pulverulentus ‘Sunset’, covered in bright pink flowers from June to July, reaching about 50 cm and capable of spreading over 1 m.

Remember that the cistus is a Mediterranean plant: it is hardy down to about -10° C in well-drained soil and in open ground. For pot planting, ensure good drainage, avoid humidity and standing water. Potted plants are more exposed to the cold than those in open ground, so it would be wise to consider protection or wintering from -5° C.

Various varieties of cistus can be planted in pots

→ To refine your choice, discover our collection of cistus!

What type of pot should you choose?

The resilience of cistus to extreme drought conditions is partly due to their specific root system, which is dual:

• a dense and superficial root hair system that can capture the slightest drop of moisture on the surface
• a deep taproot capable of reaching water far into the soil.

In the case of pot cultivation, roots will not develop in the same way as in open ground. It is advisable to prefer a large pot size (at least 50 cm), both wide and deep to encourage the taproot and avoid the phenomenon of root balling. This balling occurs when the pot is too small and roots circle at the bottom, suffocating the plant.

Terracotta pots, well-suited for cistus cultivation

Regarding the choice of material, this depends on your tastes and the style of your home, but keep in mind that terracotta, being porous, is more breathable and also more environmentally friendly than plastic.

When and how to plant it?

The cistus thrives in dry, poor soils. The pH of the substrate should be rather neutral and, above all, well-drained. For this, you can use your garden soil if it meets these characteristics.

• First, place a good drainage layer at the bottom of the pot (gravel or clay balls)
• Plant your cistus in a mixture consisting of 1/3 soil, 1/3 coarse sand, and 1/3 potting soil
• Water generously, allowing the substrate to dry between waterings

North of the Loire river in France, planting of the cistus takes place in April-May, when frosts are no longer a concern. In milder climates, you can do it in September-October.

How to care for cistus in pots?

Cistus is a heat-loving plant: place it in full sun.

Watering and pruning should be done sparingly

Watering

• Water the cistus with spaced waterings, allowing the substrate to dry out between each. Do not let water stagnate in the saucer.
• As the cistus prefers poor soils, it is not necessary to provide fertiliser.

Wintering

In regions where frost is a concern (from -8°C), it is best to winter your potted cistus in a frost-free location that is bright and unheated.

Pruning

• To densify the habit of your cistus, you can perform light shaping pruning at the end of flowering. Be careful, cistus do not tolerate severe pruning, and older plants may tend to become bare at the base.

As the lifespan of the cistus is relatively short (less than 10 years), do not hesitate to renew your pots after a few years. Exhausted cistus in pots can be transplanted into the ground if your climate allows.