cretan rockrose
Cistus creticus
USDA zones9 to 10
SunNeeds full sun (6+ hours)
WaterNeeds dry soil
Size2 to 5 feet tall2 to 3 feet wide
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Cretan rockrose (Cistus creticus) is an evergreen shrub for borders, low maintenance gardens, and ground cover. It grows outdoors year-round in USDA zone 9 and warmer, down to about 20°F (-7°C). In colder areas, grow it as a houseplant or bring it indoors for winter. This plant likes full sun and dry soil of most types. Deer usually look elsewhere for a meal. It blooms in early to late spring and again in early to late summer, and butterflies and bees visit the flowers.
Pairs well with Anouk Spanish lavender, Purple sage, and Shenandoah switchgrass.