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Cistus × purpureus

Orchid Rock Rose

Regular price
£14.39
Regular price
£17.99
Sale price
£14.39

3 litre pot

Bring bold Mediterranean flair to your garden with Cistus × purpureus, a sun-drenched stunner with vivid magenta-pink blooms and a carefree attitude. Perfect for gravel gardens, dry borders, and seaside plots, this rock rose bursts with colour and charm all summer long—no green thumb required.
  • Striking summer colour
  • Attracts bees
  • Low maintenance and resilient
  • Great for dry or poor soils

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  • Aspect

    Full sun

  • Hardiness

    Fully hardy

  • Flowers

    May, June, July

  • Soil type

    Well-drained, sandy or stony soil

Cistus × purpureus
Cistus × purpureus

  • Why we like this plant

    Want a bold splash of colour with minimal effort? Cistus × purpureus delivers. Its papery magenta flowers open in abundance over weeks, creating a hot-summer look even in the UK. It thrives in poor, dry soils, handles salty winds, and needs barely any attention—just a sunny spot and a bit of space.

  • About this plant

    Cistus × purpureus, also known as the Orchid Rock Rose, is a striking evergreen shrub famed for its large, crinkled magenta-pink flowers, each with a bold maroon blotch at the base of its petals. Blooming profusely from late spring into summer, this sun-loving plant offers intense Mediterranean colour and thrives in dry, poor soils. With its aromatic foliage and drought-tolerant nature, it’s a perfect fit for gravel gardens, coastal spots, and sunny borders.

  • Key features

    • Showy magenta-pink flowers with maroon spots
    • Evergreen grey-green foliage
    • Drought and heat tolerant
    • Excellent for Mediterranean or coastal gardens
    • Pollinator friendly

  • Eventual height and
    spread

    Height: 100–150cm | Spread: 120–150cm

  • Growth
    habit

    Bushy and rounded with woody stems, covered in lightly aromatic, narrow evergreen leaves.

  • Moisture

    Dry to moderately moist

  • Position in
    the Garden

    Ideal for sunny borders, dry slopes, gravel and Mediterranean gardens

Planting guide

Plant in spring or autumn in free-draining soil. Position in full sun with shelter from cold winds. Avoid disturbing once established.

Care tips

Water during dry spells in the first year. Avoid overwatering and prune lightly after flowering to keep a compact shape. No need for fertiliser in poor soil.

Winter care

Generally hardy but prefers a sheltered, well-drained position. Mulch lightly in autumn and avoid waterlogging during cold, wet winters. No pruning required beyond light shaping.