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Key characteristics

Family: Cistaceae
Height: 4 to 5 feet
Width: 4 to 5 feet
Flower color: Rose-pink flowers with dark maroon blotches at the base of each petal and yellow centers
Foliage color: Dark green, slightly sticky leaves with a leathery texture
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Light: Full sun
Water: Low
Maintenance: Low; prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape and encourage dense growth
Growing zone: USDA Zones 8 to 10
Wildlife: Bees and butterflies

Shrubs

Cistus x purpureus

Purple Rock Rose

Cistus x purpureus is an evergreen shrub admired for its vibrant flowers and textured foliage. From late spring to early summer, it produces large, papery blooms in shades of deep pink to magenta, each with dark crimson blotches at the base of the petals and a golden-yellow center. These showy flowers are complemented by the shrub's aromatic, gray-green leaves, which provide a soft, silvery backdrop year-round.

Light

Full sun

Water

Low

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Sun Gardens
Mediterranean Gardens
Waterwise Gardens
Pollinator Gardens

Companion plants

Daphne · Pearlbush · Bluestars · Rock cress · Pampas Grass · Pasque flower

Design tip

Large magenta flowers with dark maroon markings deserve enough space to be appreciated individually rather than lost among competing blooms. Surround this rock rose with simpler foliage and flower colors, allowing its dramatic pattern to become a distinctive feature of the summer garden.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)