White-Leaved Rock Rose
Cistus albidus (CISTACEAE)
Planting and Growing White-Leaved Rock Rose
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow white-leaved rock rose in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and nutlike fruit of white-leaved rock rose
- Growing conditions for white-leaved rock rose
- When and where to plant white-leaved rock rose
- How to plant white-leaved rock rose
- How to shape, prune and control growth of white-leaved rock rose
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of white-leaved rock rose
- Landscape uses of white-leaved rock rose
- Pest and disease control for white-leaved rock rose
Growing White-Leaved Rock Rose
Several cultivars of fast-growing, erect, branching and open, evergreen shrubs, to 8 ft. (2.4 m) tall and 4 ft. (1.2 m) wide, with opposite, velvety, gray green or variegated, lance-shaped, pointed, fragrant leaves, to 2-1/2-in. (63-mm) long.
Spotted rock rose, Cistus X cyprius; purple rock rose, Cistus incanus; and laurel rock rose, Cistus laurifolius, are closely related species with similar care needs.
White-Leaved Rock Rose Planting Guide
Flowers and Fruit
Showy, flat, open, pink, white, sometimes multicolored flowers, 2–3 in. (50–75 mm) wide, in summer, form nut- or acornlike fruit, to 1/2-in. (12-mm) wide, with green, leafy bracts in autumn. Single-day blooms, repeating in autumn.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 7–10. Semi-hardy.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp to dry, well-drained soil. Fertility: Average–low. 6.5–8.0 pH. Salt tolerant.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun. Space 2–4 ft. (60–120 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep damp until established; drought tolerant thereafter. Avoid fertilizing. Pinch growth buds to shape. Limit pruning to removing old branches. Propagate by cuttings, layering, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, banks, borders, containers, edgings, paths in arid, cottage, natural, seaside, small-space, woodland gardens. Disease resistant. Aphid susceptible.