This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: long-blooming cistus

Hello everyone ! I haven't been sleeping for two or three months, but I
just have too much work during springtime in my litttle nursery to answer
any medit-plants messages.  Diane's message I can't help answering though.

This is one of the good questions about cistus : which are the
long-blooming cistus, and why ? (other good questions would be about frost
resistance, alcaline resistance, which are the best ground-covers, how to
help them not beeing too short-lived... hope you won't ask, otherwise I'll
have to answer :-) ).

'Sunset' is a common name for Cistus x pulverulentus, hybrid of Cistus
albidus (early flowering) and Cistus crispus (late flowering) : it has
taken as often with cistus hybrids the best qualities of the two parents,
has a wonderful bright colour, a prostrate habit, good alcaline resistance,
and long flowering period (starting a bit late though) from end of May to
end of July in dry mediterranean conditions as here, or during all summer
in oceanic conditions like Britanny or Cornwalls (I don't really know about
Calif, I think it's as hot and dry as South of France). By the way, for
many cistus, hybrid doesn't mean its a horticultural created plant : there
are many natural cistus hybrids, which are very interesting on the pure
botanical point of view. South of France is  full of them, you just have to
look for them, it's really great in Spring. Cistus x pulverulentus is a
spontaneous hybrid in the Corbieres hills, near the very nice Abbaye de
Fontfroide, 20 km from Narbonne. There is also a rare upright form of
Cistus x pulverulentus which is called 'Delilei', I've spotted one in the
Corbieres too.

Now, what else ? Hope these are available in U.S. If they aren't please go
to your usual nursery and scream.

Cistus psilosepalus (syn: C. hirsutus) from Portugal and Spain, medium
white flowers, one of the best long-blooming cistus, still in full bloom
now. Grows quickly, 1 m high 1 m wide. Only for acid soil.

Cistus x oblongifolius, hybrid between C. psilosepalus and C. laurifolius.
Beautiful dark glossy leaf, white  flowers, excellent big ground-cover 60
cm high 1 m wide. Flowers  from end of May to end of July, a few drops of
water (which I don't give it, I'm a bit stubborn about dry gardening) would
take it right through the summer. Neutral or acid soil.

Cistus x Ralletii, hybrid between C. creticus and C. symphitifolius (from
Canaria) : very showy beautiful pink flowers, round bush 1 m high, looks
like a Camelia from a distance. Flowers all throughout the summer with no
problem. Somewhat frost sensible. Acid soil.

Cistus x dansereaui 'Portmeiron', hybrid between C. psilosepalus and C.
ladanifer. Striking white flowers with deep red blotches. 80 cm high. This
cultivar of C. x dansereaui is said by Robert Page (English National
Collection of Cistus) to be able to flower all year round in a sheltered
garden in Leeds (North of England) ! Here it flowers during all summer.
Neutral or acid soil.

Hope you'll find them !

Olivier

----------

> Sunset, the only hybrid cistus I grow, flowers for much longer than the 
> various species I have.  It is low, mostly below 30cm, gray-leaved, with 
> brilliant pink flowers.  Next year, I must keep track of when it begins 
> to flower.  Certainly, it has been flowering for the whole month of July.

> Can anyone recommend other long-flowering ones?
> 			Diane Whitehead Victoria BC Canada
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index