Salvia cistus
Cistus salviifolius · Cistaceae
📷 W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around salvia cistus and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Flowering
- May to July
- Adult size
- 80 cm in height
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Moderate (fears prolonged frosts)
- Origin
- Mediterranean region
- Soil type
- Well-drained, poor to average, limey or neutral
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Cistus salviifolius is a drought champion and hates winter moisture: plant on well-drained soil, ideally on a mound. No watering after the first year, even in summer.
The common mistake
Mulching or watering regularly thinking you're helping: winter moisture often damages more than cold—silent root rot in January-February.
The pro's trick
Light pruning just after flowering if you want a compact shape; let it grow wild otherwise, it naturally becomes airy and picturesque.
Care
Exposure
Sage-leaved rockrose demands a full sun location to thrive and flower generously. Install it in a spot sheltered from prevailing winds and without shade, especially in cold regions where it will strengthen its hardiness. A minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight daily is essential.
Watering
Once established, this rockrose is very drought-tolerant and requires little water. Water moderately when planting and during the first few weeks, then space out waterings. In summer, only water if drought becomes extreme. Avoid excess moisture which promotes root rot.
Soil
Rockrose prefers well-drained, poor to average soil and easily tolerates limey substrates. If your soil is heavy or compacted, lighten it with sand or gravel at planting time. No rich organic matter is necessary; it thrives better in modest conditions.
Pruning and shape
Pruning is not essential; this rockrose naturally maintains an attractive bushy form. In late winter or after flowering, lightly remove weak or unattractive branches to maintain density. Avoid severe pruning which rejuvenates the wood with difficulty.
Fertiliser
No fertiliser is necessary on well-established soil. A very moderate application of balanced fertiliser in spring is enough if the plant seems weak. Excess nitrogen promotes foliage at the expense of flowering.
Diseases and pests
Rockrose is little affected by pests when well established. In humid regions, watch for root rot or leaf rust in case of stagnant water. Good air circulation and well-drained soil are the best prevention.
Did you know?
Sage-leaved rockrose owes its common name to the remarkable resemblance of its leaves to those of common sage, although it belongs to a completely different family. Its pure white flowers with yellow centres open in the morning and close in the afternoon, a fascinating adaptation to the hot and dry conditions of its Mediterranean homeland.
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
- Montpellier rockroseCistus monspeliensis
- Laurel-leaved cistusCistus laurifolius
- Curly rockroseCistus crispus
- Cretan rock roseCistus creticus
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.