Rockrose, Cistus: Planting, Pruning and Care

Description and botany

Rockrose is a typical Mediterranean garrigue shrub belonging to the Cistaceae family and the Cistus genus, which includes about twenty species and numerous hybrid varieties. It grows naturally in dry, stony or rocky soils around the Mediterranean, where it roots deeply with its extensive root system. It is very common in the garrigues of southern France.

With relatively slow growth, it forms dense, bushy shrubs 0.30 to 1.50 m tall, spreading in all directions. Its bushy habit can be upright, compact or spreading. Depending on the species, it may form a regular dome (Cistus salviifolius), an erect shape (Cistus populifolius), or a very ground-hugging form (Cistus x pulverulentus).

Its lifespan is quite short, averaging around ten years.

Its flowering is enchanting! From early April to June-July, depending on the climate, the Rockrose’s foliage disappears beneath a profusion of silky flowers, with wide-open rounded corollas, either solitary or clustered in groups of two to six at the branch tips. Emerging from wrinkled buds, these rose-like flowers bloom into cup-shaped blossoms, resembling crumpled tissue paper, 2 to 10 cm in diameter, mostly white or pink.

Each flower has five petals, crinkled like tissue paper, sometimes adorned with contrasting blotches, surrounding a central pompon of golden-yellow stamens. While often white, they can take on beautiful purplish-pink hues in Cistus x purpureus or deep rose in Cistus x pulverulentus ‘Sunset’, or even creamy yellow in Cistus x revolii ‘Merrist Wood Cream’.

Each flower lasts barely a day, wilting by late afternoon and scattering petals like rain. Though short-lived, the countless buds ensure that new flowers replace them every morning throughout the blooming season. This constant renewal gives the shrub an enduring beauty for weeks.

Nectar-rich, the flowers attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Generally unscented (except for species like the Montpellier Rockrose), they compensate with their exceptional abundance. After flowering, brown, hairy globular seed capsules appear, retaining seeds for long periods.

Rockrose forms attractive bushy clumps with evergreen foliage, though less striking than its flowers. The persistent leaves, 1 to 10 cm long, sometimes wavy-edged and rough-textured, vary from narrow to oval or elongated depending on the variety. The foliage of Cistus populifolius, also called “Poplar-leaved Rockrose”, features large heart-shaped leaves resembling poplar leaves. The grey-green, downy leaves of Cistus salviifolius recall those of common sage.

Their strongly veined texture gives them a basket-like appearance, hence the name “Cistus”, meaning “basket” in Greek.

Young shoots are sticky and highly aromatic in hot, dry weather, releasing a penetrating amber-like fragrance on warm days.

Leaf colour varies by variety, from glossy dark green to silvery grey (Cistus albidus), including yellow or variegated forms like Cistus x corbariensis ‘Rospico’. Some have paler undersides. While deep green in summer, leaves may turn reddish-purple in winter, as seen in Corbières Rockrose.

Rockrose: flower, foliage and seed capsules.

Since antiquity, the leaves and twigs of Cistus ladanifer have yielded a resinous aromatic substance called labdanum, widely used in perfumery and aromatherapy for its medicinal properties. In the garrigue, their leaves can ignite under extreme heat due to their essential oils. Rockrose is a pyrophytic species, with germination actually encouraged by fire.

The quintessential plant of limestone scrubland, Rockrose thrives in stony, poor soils with good drainage. This exceedingly hardy shrub, resistant to drought and salty winds, loves full sun and warm, sheltered spots.

Semi-hardy, it can withstand temperatures down to -10 or -15°C in well-drained soil. North of the Loire, it’s best grown in containers and protected from frost in winter.

In the garden, it works beautifully in borders, free hedges, rockeries, dry slopes, or even on sunny terraces and balconies.

Species and main varieties

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Cistus monspeliensis - Montpelier Rockrose

A must-have with highly fragrant flowers that attract butterflies. Perfect in the garden or in containers on your terrace.

• Flowering time May to July
• Height at maturity 70 cm

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Cistus x purpureus - Rockrose

Forms a neat, rounded shape covered in violet-pink flowers. Ideal for borders, rockeries, flower beds, ground cover, slopes, and containers.

• Flowering time May to July
• Height at maturity 1 m

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Cistus pulverulentus Sunset - Rockrose

More spreading than shrubby, it features wavy grey-green foliage and later flowering. An excellent evergreen ground cover for poor, dry slopes. Hardy down to -10/-12°C.

• Flowering time July, August
• Height at maturity 50 cm

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Cistus x corbariensis - Rockrose

A compact, densely branched shrub. Its dark green evergreen foliage turns purple in winter. Semi-hardy.

• Flowering time May to July
• Height at maturity 70 cm

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Cistus populifolius - Poplar-leaved Rockrose

An exclusive variety! Notable for its colourful winter foliage, attractive shape, and hardiness, allowing it to withstand temperatures as low as -12/-15°C in well-drained soil.

• Flowering time May to July
• Height at maturity 2 m

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Cistus x loretii - Rockrose

A hybrid Rockrose with good hardiness, forming a dense, spreading habit. Best grown in full sun, in borders or containers.

• Flowering time May to July
• Height at maturity 90 cm

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Cistus salviifolius - Rockrose

An exclusive variety! This dry woodland species stands out for its better tolerance of shade and root competition.

• Flowering time May to July
• Height at maturity 90 cm

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Cistus x argenteus Peggy Sammons - Rockrose

A surprisingly hardy hybrid Rockrose (down to -15°C). Thrives in dry, poor soil on sun-baked slopes.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 1,20 m

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Halimiocistus wintonensis Merrist Wood Cream

A hybrid Rockrose with cream flowers. A perfect choice for rock gardens and poor soils, well-adapted to drought.

• Flowering time June, July
• Height at maturity 60 cm

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Cistus x corbariensis Rospico - Rockrose

A lovely variety of Corbières Rockrose with light yellow-margined foliage, particularly bright. Excellent for brightening up partially shaded areas, which it tolerates very well.

• Flowering time May to July
• Height at maturity 70 cm

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Cistus x skanbergii - Rockrose

A compact, dense, rounded Rockrose, particularly floriferous in spring. This variety tolerates limestone well and withstands brief frosts of -10 to -12°C.

• Flowering time May to July
• Height at maturity 60 cm

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Planting

Where to Plant Rockrose

The Rockrose is a typical Mediterranean garrigue shrub that thrives naturally in dry, hot climates. It therefore struggles in overly humid regions but its foliage tolerates coastal sea spray well.

Give it full sun, plenty of warmth, and shelter from strong winds. South of the Loire, it can be grown directly in the ground, though in more northern regions, container cultivation is preferable.

With moderate hardiness, it particularly fears damp frosts below -5°C to -10°C. In well-drained soil, it shows greater cold resistance. Plant it in the warmest spot of your garden, in full sun against a south-facing wall. Some woodland species like Cistus salviifolius stand out for their shade tolerance and ability to handle root competition.

It loves stony or sandy soils where water never stagnates. Above all, it detests heavy, compacted, suffocating soils where it will not survive.

Rockrose works well as a standalone specimen or in groups. It’s not overly bulky. However, due to its slow growth, avoid unnecessary transplanting to give it time to establish. Use it in borders, rockeries, or as ground cover along pathways or stairways. In regions with harsh winters, container growing is an option.

When to Plant Rockrose?

Plant Rockrose after the last frosts, in April-May north of the Loire, and September-October in hot, dry climates.

How to Plant Rockrose?

If your soil retains moisture, plant your Rockrose atop a mound where water won’t pool. For group planting, space plants 0.4 to 1m apart, depending on the variety.

• In the ground
• Dig a hole 2-3 times the pot’s volume
• Add a gravel layer at the base
• Plant level with the root collar
• Mix in coarse sand
• Backfill the hole
• Keep the shrub upright
• Gently firm the soil with your foot
• Mulch the base
• Water thoroughly at planting, then sparingly in the first year, allowing soil to dry between waterings
• Thereafter, water only during prolonged heatwaves

In containers

The substrate must be extremely well-draining to avoid waterlogging. Place in full sun in a large pot at least 50cm in diameter.

• Add a thick drainage layer (gravel or clay pebbles)
• Plant in sandy soil mix
• Mulch the base
• Water deeply but infrequently, letting the substrate dry between waterings
• In summer, water when the surface soil is dry
• In cold regions, move pots to frost-free shelter at first frost and reduce watering

→ Learn more in our guide: Planting Rockrose in Pots

Care and maintenance

The Rockrose is a low-maintenance shrub and, when well-established in perfectly drained soil, it offers better hardiness.

Perfectly adapted to sun and drought, it tolerates long periods of aridity well.

• In the ground, once established, water only during prolonged dry spells.
• Potted rockroses require more regular watering: in summer, water when the soil is dry and allow the substrate to dry out between waterings.
• In winter, if severe frost is forecast, protect your shrub with winter fleece. Mulch the base of the most frost-sensitive varieties (Cistus salvifolius) to insulate them from the cold as much as possible.
• Move potted rockroses to a frost-free location in regions where temperatures regularly drop below -10°C.

When and how to prune cistus?

Pruning Cistus is not necessary. The rockrose does not tolerate hard pruning well; it’s better to replace old, bare plants. Only intervene to remove any dead branches or to carry out very light trimming to maintain a balanced, bushy shape.

After flowering, simply cut (pinch) back the last third of the stems to encourage branching and remove dead wood.

Diseases and potential pests

Behind its delicate flowers lies a strong character and unmatched hardiness. The Rockrose is a tough plant, resistant to both diseases and pests. It fears only two things: cold and dampness.

Occasionally, it may suffer from fungal infections caused by heat combined with moisture. At its base, it can sometimes be colonised by Cytinus, a small parasitic plant with yellow flowers.

In excessively chalky soil, it may develop signs of chlorosis over time due to lime overload.

Propagation

While Rockrose can be propagated by sowing under a cold frame in autumn or spring, the quickest method is by cuttings, though this is best reserved for experienced gardeners.

• In late summer, take 10 cm long heel cuttings from non-flowering stems
• Insert them into a mix of sand and compost kept slightly moist
• Place under a warm frame
• Once rooted, transplant the cuttings into a very sandy mix
• Plant out in the ground the following spring

Discover our tips for successfully taking Rockrose cuttings and our tutorial on How to sow Rockrose?

Pair

Essential in a dry, low-water garden, the Rockrose brings colour, density and brightness to borders, flower beds, and rockeries. It works perfectly in a gravel or scree garden alongside other Mediterranean shrubs or sun-loving perennials.

In an evergreen border that evokes the scent of garrigue, surround it with lavender, santolina, creeping rosemary, a Teucrium fruticans ‘Azurea’, and aromatic perennials such as thyme and sage. To enliven the scene, pair it with helianthemums, California poppies, catmints, horehounds, and drought-tolerant euphorbias (E. Characias Black Pearl).

Cistus x pulverulentus ‘Sunset’, Cistus salviifolius ‘Prostratus’ and Lavandula stoechas at the San Francisco Botanical Garden on Heidelberg Hill (Cultivar413-Flickr)

The pink-flowered Rockrose pairs beautifully with the small crimson blooms of a Leptospermum scoparium. In a lush summer border, it blends harmoniously with sweet Williams, blue thistles, early-flowering gypsophilas, summer alliums, and love-in-a-mist.

The white-flowered Rockrose thrives alongside artemisias, complemented by a Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Millerton Point’. It makes an ideal companion for Phlomis samia, bear’s breeches, and Geranium macrorrhizum.

An example of a planting scheme in shades of white, yellow, and silver: Cistus monspeliensis, Helianthemum ‘Wisley Primrose’, and artemisias (Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’, ‘Silver Queen’, ‘Valérie Finnis’…), Ceanothus thyrsiflorus ‘Millerton Point’, Santolina chamaecyparissus, Geranium macrorrhizum ‘White Ness’, and Anthemis tinctoria ‘Sauce Hollandaise’.

The Rockrose will make its most striking impact in the foreground of a more exotic composition, surrounded by a Melaleuca gibbosa, a Callistemon rigidus, or a Grevillea rosmarinifolia.