Cistus albidus aka White Leaf Rock Rose

Cistus albidus is an evergreen shrub in the Cistaceae family. Gardeners know it as rock rose or white-leaved rock rose. Its native range covers the western and central Mediterranean. Records include Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Algeria and Morocco. It also grows on the Balearic Islands and Corsica. Wild plants grow in rocky limestone sites and open pine woods. They also form part of low Mediterranean scrub called garigue.

This shrub has a dense, bushy shape and stays fairly small. Garden plants reach about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] tall and wide. They take around five to ten years to reach full size. The oblong leaves keep their cover through the year. A coat of pale hairs gives them a grey-green look. Summer brings thin, papery flowers in a soft lilac-pink shade. Their golden centres stand out against the pale petals and leaves.

Choose a sheltered spot that gets full sun. South-facing and west-facing sites suit its needs. Plant it in soil that drains well, with low to moderate fertility. Chalk, loam and sandy soils can all suit it. It accepts acid, neutral and alkaline conditions. Very alkaline ground can cause chlorosis, leaving the foliage yellow. RHS rates its UK hardiness as H4. This covers minimum temperatures of about −10 to −5°C. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 6–9.

Its small size suits beds, borders and sunny woodland edges. RHS also suggests rock gardens, gravel gardens and informal planting. It fits Mediterranean-style schemes, courtyards, coastal gardens, banks and slopes. The evergreen leaves provide cover outside the flowering season. Avoid hard cutting back to renew an old shrub. It does not recover well from this treatment. Raise new plants from seed or summer softwood cuttings. Pests seldom cause trouble, though honey fungus can affect it.

Plants For A Future records a few food uses for the leaves. They can serve as a substitute for tea. Dried leaves have also been mixed into marjoram as an adulterant. The source gives the plant a low food-use rating. It lists no known hazards, but gives no specific pet-safety assessment. It records no medicinal uses or other practical uses. The same source does not flag it as a weed.