Cistus 'Victor Reiter'


Common name(s): rockrose


Description: evergreen shrub; a selection from California named for a San Francisco plantsman. Large gray-green foliage with reddish-brown stems and rounded, upright growth. Bright pink flowers that fade to white in the center in spring and early summer. Very cold hardy. Parentage: allegedly C. laurifolius × C. creticus (or possibly C ×canescens).


Height: to 4 ft. Spread: to 4 ft.


Position: full sun and lean, well-draining soil. Will tolerate nearby root competition from larger trees such as pines and firs


Uses: ornamental


Winter Hardiness: to 0 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.