PlantPeers
Back to Catalog
No image available
Cistaceae FAMILY

Cistus libanotis

Cistus libanotis

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Shrub
Growth—

Cistus libanotis is native to the Mediterranean region, with its hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The genus is not very hardy outside the milder regions of the temperate zone, this species being able to tolerate winter temperatures dipping occasionally to around -8°c so long as the soil is fairly dry[1]. A covering of bracken or leafy branches in severe weather is a help, and will often save plants that would otherwise perish[2]. Plants are also somewhat hardier when grown in poor soils[3]. Cistus species generally grow best in a sunny position in a well-drained light sandy soil[2, 3]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[2, 4]. Plants are apt to be short-lived[3]. Individual flowers only last one day but there is a long succession of them over several weeks[5]. The flowers are very attractive to bees. Dislikes pruning or root disturbance[3, 5]. Plants should be pot grown and then planted out in their final positions whilst still small[5]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[5]. In cultivation, Cistus species will often hybridize freely with other members of the genus[5]. This species is closely related to Cistus clusii[2]. Cistus species form ectomychorrizal roots, developing symbiotic relationships with various mychorrizal fungal species, mainly belonging to the genus Lactarius[6]. This relationship aids the plants in water and nutrient uptake often helping the host plant to survive adverse conditions whilst, in exchange, the fungal symbiont is provided with access to carbohydrates.

Propagation

Seed - gather when ripe and store dry[7]. Surface sow in late winter in a greenhouse[8]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 4 weeks at 20°c[8]. Seeds in the wild are more likely to germinate following a forest fire[6], so it could be worth giving the seedlings heat treatment by placing a small amount of fast-burning flammable material on top of them and then allowing it to burn for perhaps 20 - 30 seconds[PFAF]. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle into individual pots. Grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out the in the following spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[8]. The seed stores for at least 3 years[PFAF]. Cuttings of softish to half-ripe wood, 8cm long with a heel or at a node, early to late summer in a frame. Roots are formed within 3 weeks[7]. High percentage[7]. Cuttings of almost mature wood, 8 - 12cm with a heel or at a node, early to mid autumn in a frame. High percentage[7]. Lift and pot up in the spring, plant out when a good root system has formed[7]. Layering in spring. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Cistus+libanotis>

Pollinators

Bees

References

  1. [1]Shrubs. — Phillips. R. & Rix. M. · Pan Books · 1989 · ISBN 0-330-30258-2 ↩︎Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1,900 species and cultivars.
  2. [2]Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. — Bean. W. · Murray · 1981 · ISBN - ↩︎A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
  3. [3]Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. — Thomas. G. S. · Murray · 1992 · ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 ↩︎Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
  4. [4]The Dry Garden. — Chatto. B. · Dent · 1982 · ISBN 0460045512 ↩︎A good list of drought resistant plants with details on how to grow them.
  5. [5]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  6. [6]Genus Cistus: a model for exploring labdane-type diterpenes’ biosynthesis and a natural source of high value product — Dimitra Papaefthimiou, Antigoni Papanilkolaou et al · 2014 ↩︎
  7. [7]Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. — Sheat. W. G. · MacMillan and Co · 1948 · ISBN - ↩︎A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
  8. [8]Growing from Seed. Volume 4. — Bird. R. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1990 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
  9. [9]Screening of Mineral Elements in Cistus ladanifer and Cistus libanotis Essential Oils and their Leaves — Zidane H.; Aouniti F.; Tahani A.; Fauconnier M.L.; Elbachiri · 2013 · http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/290407 · ISBN 0970-020X ↩︎
  10. [10]The flavonol-enriched Cistus albidus chloroform extract possesses in vivo anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive act — Ouahiba Tahiria; Dina Atmani-Kilani et al · ISBN 0378-8741 ↩︎
  11. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎