Cistus purpureus
Botanical name
Cistus x purpureus
Other names
Purple-flowered rock rose
Genus
Cistus
Species
C. × purpureus – C. x purpureus is a compact, rounded evergreen shrub with narrowly oblong or lance-shaped, slightly wavy, dark green leaves and, in summer, deep purple-pink flowers with maroon blotches at the base of each petal.
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy, Compact, Rounded
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Flower
Pink, Purple, Flushed red in Summer
Foliage
Green in All seasons
General care
Pruning
Prune off any frost damaged shoots in spring. To keep plants tidy and bushy, clip with shears after flowering. Remove about two-thirds of the new growth, but do not cut into old wood as this may kill the plant.
Propagation methods
Seed, Softwood cuttings
Cistus x purpureus (Purple-flowered rock rose) will reach a height of 1m and a spread of 1m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, City, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Gravel, Ground Cover, Low Maintenance, Mediterranean
Cultivation
Plant in late Spring. Grows in poor soils, but requires full sun and shelter from the wind.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
