Common Name: Rock Rose

General Information

Cistus creticus is a much-branched, compact, evergreen shrub growing 60 - 120cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine, and also on a commercial basis for its fragrant gum. It is sometimes cultivated for this gum and is also often grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Mediterranean region - Portugal to Greece, Bulgaria and the Ukraine; N. Africa - Morocco to Libya; Asia -Turkey to Georgia, south to Israel and Jordan

Habitat

Amongst scrub and in bushy places on rocks, dry hills etc; at elevations from sea level to 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Cistus creticus is native to the Mediterranean region, with its hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters. It is not very hardy outside the milder regions of the temperate zone, able to tolerate winter temperatures dipping occasionally to around -8°c so long as the soil is fairly dry[]. A covering of bracken or leafy branches in severe weather is a help, and will often save plants that would otherwise perish[]. Plants are also somewhat hardier when grown in poor soils[].
Cistus species generally grow best in a sunny position in a well-drained light sandy soil[, ]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[, ]. Tolerates maritime exposure[].
The plant has a wide-spreading, shallow root system that does not compete well with the roots of other species[].
Many members of this genus yield a fragrant gum, known as ladanum (or labdanum), which is used in perfumery and as a medicine. This species is considered to be the most prolific producer of the gum[], and it is sometimes cultivated, especially in Cyprus, on the southern coast of Crimea and on the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea[]. .
A very polymorphic species, as can be seen from the large number of synonyms. Whilst this species is the main source of the fragrant gum ladanum, it should be noted that some of its many forms do not yield much gum[].
There is a mauve-flowered variety of this species that is the most prolific producer of the resin[].
The leaves, which exude a balsamic resin, are especially fragrant on warm sunny days[].
This is usually a short-lived plant in cultivation, it probably exhausts itself by its very free-flowering habit[]. However, plants will often self-sow when growing in a suitable position[].
Individual flowers only last one day but there is a long succession of them[].
The flowers are very attractive to bees[].
Dislikes pruning or root disturbance[, ]. Plants should be pot grown and then planted out in their final positions whilst still small[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
In cultivation, Cistus species will often hybridize freely with other members of the genus[].
Cistus species form ectomychorrizal roots, developing symbiotic relationships with various mychorrizal fungal species, mainly belonging to the genus Lactarius[]. 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

The leaves are used as a tea substitute[, ].

The oleo-resin obtained from the leaves and stems is used as a commercial food flavouring in baked goods, ice cream, chewing gum etc[, ].

Medicinal

This plant is an aromatic, expectorant, stimulant herb that controls bleeding and has antibiotic effects[, ]. It is used internally in the treatment of catarrh and diarrhoea[, ] and as an emmenagogue[]. The leaves are harvested in late spring and early summer and can be dried for later use, or the resin extracted from them[].

The resin and the essential oils extracted from it are used for leukaemia treatment[].

The resin, ladanum, secreted by the glandular trichomes of this species, contains a number of phytochemicals with antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer properties[].

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[].
Considerable research has been carried out into the properties of these compounds - the following are some that apply to this species
Organic and aqueous leaf extracts of the plant growing naturally in Morocco and Tunisia were shown to have antimicrobial and antifungal properties that were mostly active against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus hirae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the yeast Candita glabrata[].
The polyphenol rich extract CYSTUS052 derived from the plant was shown to exhibit potent anti-influenza virus activity without causing toxic side effects or inducing viral resistance. The first clinical study showed that the extract (CYSTUS052) could be applied for the treatment of upper and lower respiratory tract infections[].
Aqueous extracts of the plant were able to generate strong antioxidant activities in a dose-dependent manner, using several free radical scavenging methods[].
Cytotoxic activity of shoot extracts from the plant against human HeLa cells was shown. Shoot extracts (rich in labdane diterpenes) were able to exert cytotoxic activity on HeLa (cervix), MDAMD-453 (breast), and FemX (melanoma) cancer cells[].
Cytotoxic and antitumor activities of the bioactive, highly lipophilic, and naturally produced labdane-type diterpenes was improved by incorporating them in liposomal formulations, a process that constitutes these compounds suitable for testing in in vivo experiments[]

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be used for soil stabilization[].

Other Uses

The glandular hairs on the leaves yield the oleo-resin 'ladanum', used medicinally as well as in soaps, perfumery, fumigation etc and as an incense[, , , , , , , ]. This resin is an acceptable substitute for ambergris (which is obtained from the sperm whale) and so is important in perfume manufacture[].
The resin is collected by dragging a type of rake through the plant - the resin adhering to the teeth of the rake; or by boiling the twigs and skimming off the resin[, ]. Most resin is produced at the hottest time of the year[].

An extract of the whole plant is used in cosmetic preparations for protecting the skin[].
An extract of the flowers, leaves and stems is used in cosmetic preparations for skin conditioners[].

The resin and the essential oils extracted from it are important today mainly as fixatives for the perfumery, soap manufacture, as religious incense[].

Propagation

Seed - gather when ripe and store dry[]. Surface sow in late winter in a greenhouse[]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 4 weeks at 20°c[]. Seeds in the wild are more likely to germinate following a forest fire[], 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[]. 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[]. The seed stores for at least 3 years[].
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[]. High percentage[].
Cuttings of almost mature wood, 8 - 12cm with a heel or at a node, early to mid autumn in a frame. High percentage[]. Lift and pot up in the spring, plant out when a good root system has formed[].
Layering in spring.