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Cistus ladanifer (Crimson-Spot Rockrose) - Vigorous dense upright shrub reaching 5 to 6 feet tall and slightly narrower than wide with sticky slender lance-shaped dark green leaves that are grayish on the undersides and fragrant in the heat of summer. This species holds the largest flowers of the genus and is considered by some the most beautiful. Each flower is solitary but measures 3 to 4 inches in diameter with bright white petals with a bold red spot at the base, which gives rise to the common name. The cultivar 'Blanche', which we also grow, is a cultivar of this species but does not have this red blotch.
Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate infrequently to not at all. It is hardy to about 20 degrees F. A good tough drought tolerant plant for a dry garden or a seaside garden and as with other Rockroses it is resistant to deer predation.
Cistus ladanifer is indigenous to Spain, Portugal and north-west Africa but was cultivated throughout the Mediterranean region for the fragrant resin known as gum labdanum (ladanum) or vegetable ambergris that was used in perfumes and as a fixative. For this reason another common name for this plant is Gum Rockrose. The specific epithet 'ladanifer' given to this plant by Linnaeus literally means "bearing of ladanum". The name Cistus is from the Greek word 'kistos' which was the name originally used to describe the plant in ancient Greece. We have grown and sold this nice plant since 1982.
The information displayed on this page about Cistus ladanifer is based on the research we have conducted about it in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.
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