I have seen Cistus and Helianthemum both described as "Rock Rose", is
this correct? Also I have read, while Googling for the answer to this,
that Cistus are not fully hardy, has anyone any experience of this? I
have seen, what were described as rock roses, and these were partly
evergreen, fairly low growing and flowered for a long period, which is
just what I am looking for. Can any of the (wise) team help please, or
suggest another plant that full fills those conditions?
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Broadback wrote:
I have seen Cistus and Helianthemum both described as "Rock Rose", is
this correct? Also I have read, while Googling for the answer to this,
that Cistus are not fully hardy, has anyone any experience of this? I
have seen, what were described as rock roses, and these were partly
evergreen, fairly low growing and flowered for a long period, which is
just what I am looking for. Can any of the (wise) team help please, or
suggest another plant that full fills those conditions?

Crocus.co.uk has a few rock roses, pink and yellow ones, evergreen too,
compact bush, very hardy. And the rock rose is indeed a cistus except
the wild flowers one, tiny alpine, which are Helianthemum ones.

Janet Baraclough wrote:
The message
from Broadback contains these words:

I have seen Cistus and Helianthemum both described as "Rock Rose", is
this correct? Also I have read, while Googling for the answer to this,
that Cistus are not fully hardy, has anyone any experience of this? I
have seen, what were described as rock roses, and these were partly
evergreen, fairly low growing and flowered for a long period, which is
just what I am looking for. Can any of the (wise) team help please, or
suggest another plant that full fills those conditions?

Cistus are a medium sized evergreen shrub with single saucer shaped
flowers 2 + inches across. Usually white, pink or magenta. Some have
crinkled petals. They are all ravishingly pretty, subtle and free
flowering.

Helianthemum are a very low rock-garden plant with small brash
flowers less than an inch across, single or double, colours
red/white/yellow/pink orange.

Cistus vary in hardiness but you should be able to grow the hardier
ones anywhere in England; helianthemums are , er, rock hardy.

As it happens I don't like helianthemums, mimsy little things they
are. Plant them in paving where you can tread on them. But I love
cistus. They grow to a sizeable shrub very quickly and are very easy to
propagate by cuttings. My favourite is James Fradd. Large white
flowers, each petal has a single blood red spot on the inner surface.
It's not one of the hardiest, but mine came through -5 this winter.

Janet.


Thank you both, that is exactly the information I needed.

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