Plant of the Month – May
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Large, eye-catching flowers adorn this carefree shrub that performs impressively in extreme conditions with almost no maintenance, taking drought, poor soil, wind, and heat in stride.
Bicolor Rock Rose
- Cistus x cyprius var. ellipticus f. bicolor
- Plant Form: Evergreen shrub
- Water Use: Low
- Mature Size: 3-4 ft. tall x 4-7 ft. wide
- Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun
- Bloom Time: Late Spring (April-May), Summer (June – August)
- Native to: Mediterranean region
- Hardiness: Cold hardy to 15°F
Bicolor Rock Rose looks so elegant in bloom that it may fool you with its sturdy, easy-care nature. This rock rose tolerates drought, poor soil, drying winds, and desert heat. Clusters of large, white, crepe-like flowers with golden “eyes” and five burgundy spots cover this evergreen shrub from late spring to summer. Although each flower lasts only one day, buds are so abundant that bushes produce an endless procession of color for two or three months. This low-maintenance plant is best pruned in late winter after threat of frost has passed. Its growth habit of being both upright and widely sprawling make it ideal for use on dry slopes as a groundcover, as well as for borders and low hedges. Charming in both Mediterranean-style gardens and cottage gardens. Adds evergreen beauty to rock gardens, and performs great in containers.
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