Cistus x argenteus Peggy Sammons - Rockrose

Cistus argenteus Peggy Sammons is a remarkably hardy hybrid variety of rockrose. This small evergreen Mediterranean bush offers abundant flowering in the spring, with light corollas, similar to crumpled silk, dog roses, in a surprising soft pink with metallic highlights. The delicate flowers only last for one day, but are continuously renewed, with a dense, dark green foliage. A plant perfectly equipped to withstand drought and salt winds. It will thrive in dry and poor soil, on a sun-drenched slope.

The Peggy Sammons rockrose belongs to the family of cistaceae. Its parentage is complex, including C. albidus, C. creticus and C. laurifolius, which has passed on its excellent hardiness (down to -15°C (5 °F)). All these plants are native to Mediterranean regions. This branching shrub has a bushy and upright habit. It will reach a height of about 1.20 m (4 ft), with a spread of 1 m (3.3ft). Its growth is quite slow, the plant ages relatively well and disappears 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 round open corolla flowers, measuring 4 to 4.5 cm ( 1.8 in) in diameter, are pale silver-pink, enhanced by numerous bright yellow stamens. 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, elongated, ovate, greyish-green, downy leaves, measuring from 3 to 5 cm (1.2 to 2 in) long. The young shoots are aromatic.

This lovely bush for rockery and poor soil, is perfectly adapted to drought. Create a sloping bed to accompany your rockrose and evoke the scrubland, by mixing the foliage and scents of lavender, rosemary, thyme, shrubby sage, and aromatic perennials. Add Californian poppies and dryland euphorbias for some dynamism in your compositions. You can plant it in the ground (well-drained) almost anywhere, however for the coldest regions it is possible to grow it in large pots, in which case make sure it has good drainage and water generously but infrequently, allowing the substrate to dry out between waterings.

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