Cistus 'Little Gem'
Common name(s): rockrose
Description: evergreen shrub; raised by Eric Sammons in the 1980s from a seedling of C. 'Decumbens' that was repeatedly back-crossed with C. inflatus. Rounded growth with narrow foliage and white flowers with maroon blotches from spring into summer. Somewhat rare in cultivation but the parent of several popular hybrids. Parentage: C. 'Decumbens' × ? × C. inflatus.
Height: to 3 ft. Spread: to 3 ft.
Position: full sun and lean, well-draining soil
Uses: ornamental, weed-suppressing groundcover
Winter Hardiness: to 5 F and below
Drought: adapted to 4+ months of summer drought
Care: tip-pruning after flowering (especially in the first couple of years) will result in a more attractive, compact plant. Cistus generally won't tolerate or regenerate from hard pruning of older, woody growth.