Cistus creticus
Rock Rose
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Cistus genus in the family Cistaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaves are used as a tea substitute[9][19]. The oleo-resin obtained from the leaves and stems is used as a commercial food flavouring in baked goods, ice cream, chewing gum etc[7][11].
- Product or use
- Condiment
- Product or use
- Tea
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
This plant is an aromatic, expectorant, stimulant herb that controls bleeding and has antibiotic effects[13][11]. It is used internally in the treatment of catarrh and diarrhoea[13][11] and as an emmenagogue[13]. The leaves are harvested in late spring and early summer and can be dried for later use, or the resin extracted from them[11].
- Product or use
- Emmenagogue
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Stimulant
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The glandular hairs on the leaves yield the oleo-resin 'ladanum', used medicinally and in soaps, perfumery, fumigation etc[13][3][14][15][16][19][1]. This resin is an acceptable substitute for ambergris (which is obtained from the sperm whale) and so is important in perfume manufacture[11]. 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[16][19]. Most resin is produced at the hottest time of the year[14]. There is a mauve-flowered variety of this species that is the most prolific producer of the resin[12].
- Product or use
- Resin
Environment
- Range
- Europe - Mediterranean.
- Habitat
- Amongst scrub and in bushy places on rocks, dry hills etc to 1000 metres[19].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, maritime exposure, drought
- Wind
- Yes
- Maritime
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - gather when ripe and store dry[17]. Surface sow in late winter in a greenhouse[4]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 4 weeks at 20°c[4]. 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[4]. The seed stores for at least 3 years[K]. Cuttings of softish to half-ripe wood, 8cm long with a heel or at a node, June/August in a frame. Roots are formed within 3 weeks[17]. High percentage[17]. Cuttings of almost mature wood, 8 - 12cm with a heel or at a node, September/October in a frame. High percentage[17]. Lift and pot up in the spring, plant out when a good root system has formed[17]. Layering in spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a sunny position in a dry or moist well-drained light sandy soil[3][6]. Withstands drought once it is established[3][8]. Tolerates maritime exposure[188, K]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[8], but they require protection in severe winters[3]. Plants are somewhat hardier when grown in poor soils[6]. This is usually a short-lived plant in cultivation, it probably exhausts itself by its very free-flowering habit[K]. Plants often self-sow when growing in a suitable position[5]. Dislikes pruning or root disturbance[3][10]. Plants should be pot grown and then planted out in their final positions whilst still small. Individual flowers only last one day but there is a long succession of them[3][10]. A polymorphic species, some forms do not yield much gum[3]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[18][10]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[2]. The leaves, which exude a balsamic resin, are especially fragrant on warm sunny days[12].
References
Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218
International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00
Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 1987-00-00
Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1