Consulta Plantas

Care of the shrub Cistus monspeliensis or Montpellier cistus

The genus Cistus, family Cistaceae, comprises 20 species of shrubs native to the Mediterranean region. Some species are: Cistus monspeliensis, Cistus ladanifer, Cistus creticus, Cistus albidus, Cistus villosus, Cistus parviflorus, Cistus x pulverulentus, Cistus x skanbergii, Cistus salviifolius.

Common names: Montpellier cistus, Narrow-leaved cistus. This species is native to southern Europe and northern Africa.

They are highly branched evergreen shrubs with reddish stems that reach 1 meter (3.28 feet) in height. The leaves and stems give off a pleasant aroma; the leaves are narrow and dark green in color that can turn blackish in dry season. They produce showy white flowers 3 cm in diameter. They bloom in spring.

These easy-to-grow, low-maintenance plants are used on rockeries, on slopes that are difficult to access or in dry and sunny areas of the garden. They are ideal for Mediterranean coastal gardens.

Cistus monspeliensis needs full sun exposure and a dry climate. They resist frosts down to -10 ºC (14 ºF).

They grow in poor, sandy or stony soils. The important thing is that the drainage is excellent.

They hardly need irrigation since they are able to live with the low rainfall regime of the Mediterranean climate. If the summer is very hot they can be watered sporadically.

Fertilizers are not necessary.

Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a compact appearance and favor the next flowering.

They are plants resistant to the usual pests but sensitive to fungal diseases (fungi) produced by excess humidity.

They propagate by cuttings in summer after flowering or by seeds sown in spring.

Images of the shrub Cistus monspeliensis or Montpellier cistus