Rock Rose
Cistus × purpureus
Thrives in the hot, dry, poor spot nothing else wants, then goes leggy with age — and cutting into old wood won't rescue it.
Light Full sun; the hotter and drier the spot, the better.
Water Barely any once established — a true drought plant.
Height 1.2 m
Spread 3 ft 11 in
Spacing 120 cm
Spacing & sowing
- Plant spacing
- 3 ft 11 in
- In-row spacing
- 3 ft 11 in
- Between rows
- 4 ft 11 in
- Square-foot density
- Not suited to SFG
Growing
- Type
- Shrub · Perennial
- Botanical family
- Mixed / other
- Sunlight
- Full sun; the hotter and drier the spot, the better.
- Watering
- Barely any once established — a true drought plant.
- Feeding
- Don't feed it; poor soil suits it better.
- Frost tolerant
- Yes
- Flowering
- May
- Pruning
- A light trim after flowering only, and never into old wood.
- Overwintering
- Hardy to -10°C with shelter; winter wet is the greater danger.
Through the year
- Mar–Apr Bud Break
- Apr–May Spring Growth
- May–Aug Flowering
- Aug–Dec Growing
- Jan–Mar Growing
Pests & problems
The Cottage Garden Companion — the gardener's herbarium at cottagegardencompanion.com