Many times, if not almost always, when we walk through Mediterranean landscapes we find plants of the genus Cistus, from the Cistaceae family. They are often pioneer species in the recovery of degraded soils, especially after forest fires. In fact, their expansion is favored by them, as their seeds open and germinate earlier, aided by the heat of the fire.
At Sala Graupera, we have a great variety of Cistus, all of them hybrids (that is, they come from the crossing of two different species) this characteristic is marked by an x. Below, and during the following posts, we will see in more detail the main characteristics of each of them.
_Cistus x florentinus_ is a hybrid between Cistus monspeliensis x Cistus salviifolius. It is a perennial, dense and low-growing shrub, reaching only 30/40 centimeters high by 60/80 wide. Its leaves, dark green in color, are lanceolate, that is, long and wider in the central area. They contrast very well with the white color of its flowers. The flowers are small and abundant, with five petals that fall easily from the flower if struck, and their numerous stamens produce a large amount of pollen, which attracts many insects, such as bees. This white flowering occurs in early spring, during the months of March to May.
Image of Cistus x florentinus; Source: www.vivaipriola.it
It is a species with very low water needs, it needs to be planted in full sun, this way we will get abundant flowering, it also tolerates light shade, but then flowering will be scarce.
Regarding its soil requirements, it grows well in both calcareous and siliceous soil, as long as this soil has good drainage. Regarding pH, it grows well in alkaline or basic soils. We must consider that it is a species resistant to salinity and sea breeze.
It is a species, like the one explained below, Cistus x pulverulentus, belonging to hardiness zone 8, with an average annual minimum temperature range of -12.2 / -6.7°C, proving resistant to strong frosts in our latitudes.
Cistus x florentinus tolerates pruning, as long as it is not too drastic. Its pruning is recommended in late spring, when flowering ends, this way we will keep the plant compact and vigorous.
In short, it is a very interesting species to be used in sustainable gardening, due to its abundant flowering. A planting density of one to two plants per square meter is recommended.
_Cistus x pulverulentus_ is a hybrid between Cistus albidus x Cistus crispus. It is a perennial, low-growing plant, reaching half a meter high by one meter wide in adult specimens.
Its leaves are grayish-green due to the tomentose covering they have, and contrast very well with the intense pink color of its flowering. The flowers are of considerable size. Very prolonged flowering within the cistus as it can go from April to June in our area.
Image of Cistus x pulverulentus; Source: www.plantlust.com
It is a species with low water requirements, it only requires support irrigation during the 8-10 weeks after planting, once well rooted it does not require any watering. It is interesting to cover the soil with some type of mulch to retain soil moisture and prevent the appearance of unwanted weeds that can compete with it. It also needs to be planted in full sun, this way we will get very abundant flowering.
It is advisable to avoid plantings in midsummer, this way we will ensure success in our planting.
It is a plant indifferent to soil type and pH, but it does require well-drained soils. Like Cistus x florentinus, it is a species resistant to salinity and sea breeze.
Cistus x pulverulentus is very resistant to pruning, it is better not to make very drastic pruning, and try to do them once flowering is over.
It is undoubtedly a very suitable species to be used in sustainable gardening. Since it does not require any water input or chemical fertilizers and does not require much maintenance to enjoy its maximum splendor.
We recommend using a planting density of one or two plants per square meter.
These are undoubtedly two great shrubs that give very good results in gardens and we encourage you to try.