Cistus albidus
| Cistus albidus | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Early Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Cistus albidus (common name: rock rose)
Propagation: Seed - gather when ripe and store dry[1]. Surface sow in late winter in a greenhouse[2]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 4 weeks at 20°c[2]. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle into individual pots. Grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out the in the following spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[2]. The seed stores for at least 3 years[K].
Cuttings of softish to half-ripe wood, 8cm long with a heel or at a node, June/August in a frame. Roots are formed within 3 weeks[1]. High percentage[1].
Cuttings of almost mature wood, 8 - 12cm with a heel or at a node, September/October in a frame. High percentage[1]. Lift and pot up in the spring, plant out when a good root system has formed[1].
Layering in spring.
Cultivation: Requires a sunny position in a well-drained light sandy soil[3][4]. Prefers a calcareous soil[5]. Withstands drought once it is established[5]. Tolerates maritime exposure[6].
One of the hardiest species in this genus, tolerating temperatures down to about -15°c[7] and surviving all but the coldest winters in Britain[8], it is however apt to be short-lived[4]. Plants are somewhat hardier when grown in poor soils[4].
Individual flowers only last one day but there is a long succession of them[9].
Dislikes pruning or root disturbance[4][9]. Plants should be pot grown and then planted out in their final positions whilst still small. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[9].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[9].
Range: S.W. Europe to N. Africa - Mediterranean.
Habitat: Garigue, rocky places on limestone soils and open pine forest[10].
Edibility: The leaves are used as a tea substitute[11][12].
The dried leaves are sometimes used as an adulterant for marjoram (Origanum majorana)[12].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Late Summer
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chatto, Beth. The Damp Garden. Dent, 1982.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press, 1987.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.