Cistus salviifolius
| Cistus salviifolius | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Cistus salviifolius (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 dry or moist well-drained light sandy soil[3][4]. Withstands drought once it is established[3][5]. Tolerates maritime exposure[6].
Plants are hardy to about -12°c, but they require protection in severe winters[3]. Plants are somewhat hardier when grown in poor soils[4].
Individual flowers only last one day but there is a long succession of them[3][7].
Dislikes pruning or root disturbance[7]. Plants should be pot grown and then planted out in their final positions whilst still small.
This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[8][7].
The flowers are very attractive to bees[9].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[7].
This species is closely related to C. hirsutus[4].
Range: Europe - Mediterranean.
Habitat: Dry woods, thickets and banks, often on acid soils and on limestone, from sea level to 1200 metres in the Alpes Maritimes[3][10].
Edibility: The dried leaves are used as an adulterant for marjoram (Origanum majorana)[11][12].
Usage: A good ground cover plant for the milder areas of Britain[13]. The form 'Prostratus' has been recommended[14].
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.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ RHS. The Garden Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society, 1987.
- ↑ International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association, 1981.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press, 1987.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.
- ↑ Napier, Elspeth. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells, 1989.