Cistus ‘Snow Fire’

Cistus ‘Snow Fire’ (22/05/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 60cm

Eventual Spread:1m

Hardiness: 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Family: Cistaceae 

Cistus ‘Snow Fire’ is an evergreen shrub with a rounded, bushy habit. Its dark green/ grey  leaves are lanceolate with entire wavy margins, up to 5cm long and 1.5cm broad. Its white flowers have dark purple and yellow centers, stamens and pistils and are up to 6cm across.

Cistus ‘Snow Fire’ Flower (22/05/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Cistus ‘Snow Fire’, commonly known as Rock Rose ‘Snow Fire’. Cistus ‘Snow Fire’ is synonymous with Cistus albidus ‘Snow Fire’.

The etymological root of the binomial name Cistus is derived from the ancient Greek name for the plant.

The landscape architect may find Cistus ‘Snow Fire’ useful on poor, dry soils or as part of a Mediterranean planting scheme. Once established this plant is drought tolerant. This shrub is not attractive to deer.

Ecologically, Cistus ‘Snow Fire’ flowers are attractive to pollinating insects, including butterfly.

Cistus ‘Snow Fire’ Leaf (22/05/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Cistus ‘Snow Fire’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 2002.

Cistus ‘Snow Fire’  prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil, although very chalky soils may make this plant become chlorotic. It will tolerate stony very well drained, poor soils. It will not tolerate water logging.

Cistus ‘Snow Fire’ requires little maintenance. Pruning should be carried after flowering, old wood should not be cut.



Landscape Architecture

Cistus x purpureus

Cistus x purpureus (22/05/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 90cm

Eventual Spread:1.5m

Hardiness: 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Family: Cistaceae 

Cistus x purpureus is an evergreen shrub with a rounded, bushy habit. Its dark green/ grey  leaves are lanceolate with entire wavy margins, up to 5cm long and 1.5cm broad. Its purple flowers are up to 8cm across and have yellow stamens and pistils at its centre.

Cistus x purpureus Flower (22/05/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Cistus x purpureus, commonly known as the Purple Flowered Rock Rose.

The etymological root of the binomial name Cistus is derived from the ancient Greek name for the plant. Purpureus is from the Latin meaning ‘purple’.

The landscape architect may find Cistus x purpureus useful on poor, dry soils or as part of a Mediterranean planting scheme. Once established this plant is drought tolerant. This shrub is not attractive to deer.

Ecologically, Cistus x purpureus flowers are attractive to pollinating insects, including butterfly.

Cistus x purpureus Leaf (22/05/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Cistus x purpureus their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Cistus x purpureus  prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil, although very chalky soils may make this plant become chlorotic. It will tolerate stony very well drained, poor soils. It will not tolerate water logging.

Cistus x purpureus requires little maintenance. Pruning should be carried after flowering, old wood should not be cut.



Landscape Architecture

Cistus X obtusifolius

Cistus X obtusifolius (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Summer

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 1m

Eventual Spread:1m

Hardiness: 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

Family: Cistaceae 

Cistus X obtusifolius is an evergreen shrub with a rounded habit. Its dark green leaves are lanceolate with entire wavy margins, up to 4cm long and 1.5cm broad. Its white flowers are up to 5cm across and have yellow stamens and pistils at its centre.

Cistus X obtusifolius Flower (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Cistus X obtusifolius, commonly known as the Rock Rose or Sun Rose, is a cross between Cistus salviifolius and Cistus hirsutus. Cistus X obtusifolius is synonymous with Cistus obtusifolius.

The etymological root of the binomial name Cistus is derived from the ancient Greek name for the plant. Obtusifolius is derived from the Latin obtusum meaning ‘blunt’ and folium meaning ‘leaf’.

The landscape architect may find Cistus X obtusifolius useful on poor, dry soils or as part of a Mediterranean planting scheme. Once established this plant is drought tolerant. This shrub is not attractive to deer.

Ecologically, Cistus X obtusifolius is attractive to pollinating insects.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given the variety Cistus X obtusifolius ‘Thrive’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 2012.

Cistus X obtusifolius Leaf (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)

Cistus X obtusifolius prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil, although it dislikes chalky soils. It will tolerate stony very well drained, poor soils. It will not tolerate water logging.

Cistus X obtusifolius requires little maintenance. Pruning should be carried after flowering, old wood should not be cut.

Landscape Architecture