Cistus collection

This collection of Cistus will delight lovers of scrubland gardens. It brings together three different varieties, whose pinkish-purple and white flowers bloom together for 3 weeks in spring or summer, depending on the climate. These three shrubs have evergreen foliage, aromatic in hot weather, a dense habit, and the ability to prevent "weeds" from growing under their branches. They can be planted in a large rockery or used in a very sunny bed, in rocky and poor soil.

The collection consists of:

1 Cistus x purpureus: a shrub forming a large regular ball of 1 m in all directions. Its 6-7 cm, pinkish-violet flowers with beautiful red-purple spots, contrast with its dark and curled, very aromatic foliage. Hardiness: -12/-15 °C at the peak for a mature plant, in rocky soil.

1 Cistus x corbariensis: this small bush is 80 cm high by 1 m wide, hardy down to -15 °C. It forms a perfectly regular dome and has dark and rough foliage. Its white flowers with a small yellow centre are 4 cm wide and bloom abundantly in spring.

1 Cistus x lusitanicus 'Decumbens': a variety with a spreading and compact habit, reaching 70 cm in height by 1 m wide. It has small oblong, narrow, dark green, sticky, and fragrant leaves. Its flowers are pure white, enhanced by small dark red spots and a heart of golden stamens. This variety can withstand temperatures down to -9/-10ºC at the peak.

The cistus in this collection are small shrubs with fast growth, but their lifespan rarely exceeds 12 years. They appreciate full sun and rocky, stony soils that do not retain water, both in winter and summer. Therefore, they should be planted in a large rockery, on a slope, or in a raised bed enriched with gravel. Plant them in a triangle, with a spacing of 1 m between each plant. To enhance this small bed, you can plant three Convolvulus sabatius, a ground cover with no specific requirements that blooms blue from spring to summer. For flowers over a longer period, opt for a prostrate rosemary 'Whitewater Silver'. Also consider lavenders and Teucriums to accompany your cistus: all these plants appreciate the same growing conditions.