Cistus populifolius
Cistus populifolius · Cistaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around cistus populifolius and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Blooming
- May to July
- Flowers
- White, simple, golden heart
- Adult size
- 1 to 1.5 m tall × 0.8 to 1.2 m wide
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- -10 to -12 °C
- Origin
- Spain, Portugal, Morocco
- Soil type
- Light, well-drained, poor to moderate
Care
Light exposure
Place your Cistus populifolius in full sun, with a minimum of 6 hours of direct light daily. This Mediterranean plant loves heat and direct sunlight to produce its magnificent flowers. Shade reduces blooming and encourages leggy growth.
Watering
Water moderately during the growing season (spring-summer) and drastically reduce watering in fall-winter. Once established, Cistus resists drought well thanks to its thick foliage. Avoid standing water, which causes root rot.
Soil preparation
Use light, well-drained soil, slightly acidic to neutral. Amend with coarse sand or perlite if your soil is too compact. This plant refuses heavy, permanently wet soils.
Pruning and shaping
Pinch young plants to encourage branching and achieve a compact form. After flowering, do a light cleaning prune to remove dead wood. Avoid severe pruning: Cistus rarely regrows from old wood.
Nutrition
Apply balanced diluted fertilizer in early spring. This plant adapted to poor soils doesn't need regular feeding. Excess fertilizer promotes foliage at the expense of flowering.
Health watch
Cistus is robust but fears excessive moisture, which promotes rot and fungal issues. Ensure optimal drainage and good air circulation. Scale insects can occasionally attack in greenhouses or warm confined conditions.
Did you know?
Cistus populifolius is sometimes called the 'poplar-leaved rockrose' because of its oval leaves resembling poplar foliage. In Mediterranean scrublands, its fragrant resins were historically used to produce labdanum, a precious essence used in perfumery since ancient times.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Common rock roseHelianthemum nummularium
- Grey cistusCistus albidus
- Salvia cistusCistus salviifolius
- Montpellier rockroseCistus monspeliensis
- Laurel-leaved cistusCistus laurifolius
- Curly rockroseCistus crispus
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.