Cistus
Cistus × purpureus
Also called Rock rose and Sun rose
Garden plant · ShrubsEvery flower lasts one day and the bush is covered again the next morning. It will not take pruning into old wood and it hates wet feet in winter — that is what kills them, not cold.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 10 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun, sheltered, in poor sharp-drained soil
- Feed
- Not needed
- Humidity
- Low
- Hardiness
- Hardy — an average winter RHS H4, to -10°C
- Size
- 0.75 m tall · 0.75 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- A garden hybrid of two Mediterranean species
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-11. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.