Cistus x loretii - Rockrose

Cistus x loretii, also known as Narrow-leaved Cistus, is a relatively hardy Mediterranean shrub with a dense and spreading habit and narrow evergreen leaves that are pleasantly fragrant in hot weather. It is covered in spring with ephemeral flowers resembling white wild roses, whose crumpled petals are adorned with beautiful brown-purple spots. This ground-covering shrub is perfectly adapted to drought. Give it a rocky soil and a scorching exposure, so that it fills the space with its intense scent of amber and balsamic, with spicy and woody notes.

Cistus x loretii, also known as Cistus x monspeliensioides according to some nomenclatures, is a plant of the cistaceae family, which is found in the wild in the rocky scrublands of the Mediterranean region. It is a natural hybrid between Cistus mospeliensis and Cistus ladanifer, from which a highly used aromatic substance called ladanum is derived and used in perfumery and aromatherapy. This highly branched shrub forms a flattened and dense ball about 1 meter (3 feet 4 inches) in all directions, sometimes wider than it is tall. Flowering takes place before summer drought and heat, from May to June-July, depending on the climate. It bears ephemeral flowers measuring 7 to 8 cm (2.8 to 3.1 in) in diameter, with slightly crumpled white petals. The base of each petal is marked with a brown-purple spot, while the centre of the flower is occupied by a bouquet of golden stamens. Each flower disappears in the late afternoon, leaving a shower of petals on the ground. But the buds are countless, ensuring a flowering that lasts 3 weeks. The flowering gives way to fruits that open towards the sky, like small baskets filled with seeds. Its leaves are evergreen, narrow and elongated, dark green. They are sticky and fragrant in hot weather. The root system of this cistus is both deep and branching, it is so powerful that it manages to infiltrate between fractured rocks to draw the slightest trace of moisture from the depth. It is hardy down to -12/-15°C (10.4/5 °F) in perfectly drained soil.

The narrow-leaved cistus is a plant for rocky and poor soils, without excess limestone, perfectly adapted to drought. Its delicate flowers hide a solid temperament and resilience. Create a dry bed by mixing the foliage and fragrances of lavender (blue, white, pink), rosemary, thymes (T.vulgaris, T. polytrichus), salvias (Salvia x jamensis or officinalis) and oregano. Plant it with teucriums, nepetas, and dry soil euphorbias (E.characias, E. cyparissias) that have the same requirements. Growing it in large pots is possible if you ensure good drainage and provide abundant but spaced-out watering in the summer, allowing the substrate to dry out between waterings.