Cistus creticus - Rockrose

Cistus creticus, the Cretan rockrose, is a fairly hardy evergreen Mediterranean shrub. In spring, it is covered with a profusion of ephemeral corollas resembling wild roses, in bright pink crumpled silk. Its fragile, moving flowers only live for one day in spring, but are constantly renewed among the woolly, greenish-grey, slightly aromatic foliage. This plant is perfectly equipped to withstand drought and salty winds, piercing the rocky limestone scrub vegetation or siliceous scrub with its deep roots to draw strength. Give it a dry and poor slope, plenty of sunlight, and lots of heat.

The Cretan rockrose belongs to the Cistaceae family. It is native to Mediterranean islands, mainly Crete. It has a bushy and spreading habit, reaching a height and width of 100cm (39in). Its growth rate is quite slow. The plant ages relatively well and dies after 12 to 15 years. The flowering takes place in spring or early summer depending on the climate, and lasts for about a month. The flowers, with round fully open corollas, 4 to 4.5cm (2in) in diameter, are bright pink and shiny, enhanced by numerous bright yellow stamens in the centre. The petals slightly overlap. They only live for a day, covering the ground with their petals in the late afternoon, but will already be replaced the next morning. The evergreen foliage is composed of thick, wavy, irregularly undulating, pubescent, greyish-green leaves, measuring 3 to 5cm (1 to 2in) long. The young shoots are glandular and aromatic.

This lovely rockery bush and plant for poor soils is perfectly adapted to drought. Create an evergreen bed to accompany your cistus. Evoke memories of scrub vegetation by mixing the foliage and scents of lavender, rosemary, thyme, and sage. Add Californian poppies and dryland euphorbias for some dynamism in your composition. In warm regions, you can plant it in the ground. In cooler climates, it is possible to cultivate it in large pots, paying attention to drainage. Water the containers abundantly but spaced out to let the substrate dry between each watering.

The leaves of aromatic cistus varieties produce labdanum, a sticky resin with medicinal properties, widely used in perfumery.