Cistus × cyprius
Lam.
Cistaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Cistus × cyprius is an evergreen shrub of vigorous, bushy habit; it can grow up to 2.5 metres tall. Old plants assume a graceful, spreading habit[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
]. The young branches are clammy and shining with a fragrant gum[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
].
A very ornamental plant, often grown in gardens, it is also a source of the fragrant gum ladanum and has a range of medicinal properties.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
Range
Mediterranean region of Europe - the exact range is unertain due to its extensive cultivation as an ornamental[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
].
Habitat
Not known
Properties
Medicinal Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
Height | 1.50 m |
Pollinators | Bees |
Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Cistus × cyprius 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, though this is one of the hardier species being able to tolerate winter temperatures dipping occasionally to around -10 to -15°c so long as the soil is fairly dry[
184- Title
- Shrubs.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
- Publisher
- Pan Books
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 0-330-30258-2
- Description
- Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1,900 species and cultivars.
]. A covering of bracken or leafy branches in severe weather is a help, and will often save plants that would otherwise perish[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
]. Plants are also somewhat hardier when grown in poor soils[
182- Title
- Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thomas. G. S.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-7195-5043-2
- Description
- Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
].
Cistus species generally grow best in a sunny position in a well-drained light sandy soil[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
182- Title
- Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thomas. G. S.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-7195-5043-2
- Description
- Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
190- Title
- The Dry Garden.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chatto. B.
- Publisher
- Dent
- Year
- 1982
- ISBN
- 0460045512
- Description
- A good list of drought resistant plants with details on how to grow them.
].
Cistus × cyprius is a naturally occurring hybrid probably involving the closely related species Cistus ladanifer and Cistus laurifolius[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
]. It is widely grown as an ornamental and is also utilized for its fragrant gum[
11- Title
- Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bean. W.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
].
Plants are apt to be short-lived[
182- Title
- Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thomas. G. S.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-7195-5043-2
- Description
- Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
].
Individual flowers only last one day but there is a long succession of them over several weeks[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The flowers are very attractive to bees.
Dislikes pruning or root disturbance[
182- Title
- Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thomas. G. S.
- Publisher
- Murray
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-7195-5043-2
- Description
- Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
,
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Plants should be pot grown and then planted out in their final positions whilst still small[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
In cultivation, Cistus species will often hybridize freely with other members of the genus[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Cistus species form ectomychorrizal roots, developing symbiotic relationships with various mychorrizal fungal species, mainly belonging to the genus Lactarius[
1272- Title
- Genus Cistus: a model for exploring labdane-type diterpenes’ biosynthesis and a natural source of high value product
- Publication
- Frontiers in Chemistry Vol 2, Article 35, June 2014
- Author
- Dimitra Papaefthimiou, Antigoni Papanilkolaou et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]. 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.
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
We have no specific information for this species, but various of the species in this genus are used in traditional medicine in the Mediterranean to treat a range of conditions including colds and fevers; digestive problems and diarrhoea; skin diseases; rheumatism and other inflammatory diseases[
1271- Title
- The flavonol-enriched Cistus albidus chloroform extract possesses in vivo anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive act
- Publication
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology 209 (2017) 210-218
- Author
- Ouahiba Tahiria; Dina Atmani-Kilani et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
- 0378-8741
- Description
-
,
1272- Title
- Genus Cistus: a model for exploring labdane-type diterpenes’ biosynthesis and a natural source of high value product
- Publication
- Frontiers in Chemistry Vol 2, Article 35, June 2014
- Author
- Dimitra Papaefthimiou, Antigoni Papanilkolaou et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Research has shown that Cistus species contain a wealth of medicinally active compounds such as terpenoids (including diterpenes, labdane-type diterpenes and clerodanes); phenylpropanoids (including flavonoids and ellagitannins); several groups of alkaloids; and other types of secondary metabolites[
1272- Title
- Genus Cistus: a model for exploring labdane-type diterpenes’ biosynthesis and a natural source of high value product
- Publication
- Frontiers in Chemistry Vol 2, Article 35, June 2014
- Author
- Dimitra Papaefthimiou, Antigoni Papanilkolaou et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Considerable research has been carried out into the properties of these compounds - the following are some that apply to this species
The resin, ladanum, secreted by the glandular trichomes of this species, contains a number of phytochemicals with antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer properties[
1272- Title
- Genus Cistus: a model for exploring labdane-type diterpenes’ biosynthesis and a natural source of high value product
- Publication
- Frontiers in Chemistry Vol 2, Article 35, June 2014
- Author
- Dimitra Papaefthimiou, Antigoni Papanilkolaou et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
An aqueous extract of the leaves possesses anti-influenza virus activity[
1272- Title
- Genus Cistus: a model for exploring labdane-type diterpenes’ biosynthesis and a natural source of high value product
- Publication
- Frontiers in Chemistry Vol 2, Article 35, June 2014
- Author
- Dimitra Papaefthimiou, Antigoni Papanilkolaou et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
The fragrant gum obtained from the plant is used as an ingregdient of perfumes[
].
Propagation
Seed - this is a hybrid species and so is unlikely to breed true. Gather the seed when ripe and store dry[
78- Title
- Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sheat. W. G.
- Publisher
- MacMillan and Co
- Year
- 1948
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
]. Surface sow in late winter in a greenhouse[
164- Title
- Growing from Seed. Volume 4.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bird. R. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Thompson and Morgan.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 4 weeks at 20°c[
164- Title
- Growing from Seed. Volume 4.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bird. R. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Thompson and Morgan.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
]. Seeds in the wild are more likely to germinate following a forest fire[
1272- Title
- Genus Cistus: a model for exploring labdane-type diterpenes’ biosynthesis and a natural source of high value product
- Publication
- Frontiers in Chemistry Vol 2, Article 35, June 2014
- Author
- Dimitra Papaefthimiou, Antigoni Papanilkolaou et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
], 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[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. 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[
164- Title
- Growing from Seed. Volume 4.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bird. R. (Editor)
- Publisher
- Thompson and Morgan.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. A good article on Yuccas, one on Sagebrush (Artemesia spp) and another on Chaerophyllum bulbosum.
]. The seed stores for at least 3 years[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
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[
78- Title
- Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sheat. W. G.
- Publisher
- MacMillan and Co
- Year
- 1948
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
]. High percentage[
78- Title
- Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sheat. W. G.
- Publisher
- MacMillan and Co
- Year
- 1948
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
].
Cuttings of almost mature wood, 8 - 12cm with a heel or at a node, early to mid autumn in a frame. High percentage[
78- Title
- Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sheat. W. G.
- Publisher
- MacMillan and Co
- Year
- 1948
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
]. Lift and pot up in the spring, plant out when a good root system has formed[
78- Title
- Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Sheat. W. G.
- Publisher
- MacMillan and Co
- Year
- 1948
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
].
Layering in spring.
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