Cistus salviifolius - Inland Valley Garden Planner

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Description

A number of rockrose from the Mediterranean region are popular in Inland Empire landscapes and gardens. The sageleaf rockrose is one of low spreading shrubs that is well adapted to hard conditions, including sun, heat, wind and periods of moisture stress. C. s. 'Prostratus' is a low mounding cultivar that grows up to 2 ft. high and 4-6 ft. wide. It has small, olive-green leaves and produces a carpet of white flowers with yellow centers in early spring.

Sageleaf rockrose is a tough and durable plant for use on slopes, banks and parkways as solitary plants and in small groupings. It is good for erosion control and combines well with plants in the Olive Tree Palette. It is adapted to sunny exposures, prefers good drainage and grows with low amounts of supplemental water.

Water Needs

Sageleaf rockrose is well adapted all parts of the Inland Empire in sunny exposures with normal winter rains and low amounts of summer irrigation. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months indicated by an asterisk (*) when winter rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates it can grow with varying amounts of water; supplemental water during summer should be scheduled to allow the understory around this plant to dry out between watering cycles.

Irrigation Schedule and Graph

Low Water Use Plants

Irrigation Schedule 2

	Jan*	Feb*	Mar*	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov*	Dec*
Runs per Month	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	1x to 2x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x
Inches per Run	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"

Inches per Month	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	1" to 2"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"

Range of supplemental summer water: 7"-14"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"

0"-2"

1"-2"

0"-2"

Jan*

Feb*

Mar*

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov*

Dec*

For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, click here.

Plant Properties

Plant Type: Shrub, Ground cover
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Spreading, Mounding, Dense, Compact
Growth Rate: Moderate
Height: 18 in. - 24 in.
Width: 5 ft. - 6 ft.
Water Needs: Low 2
Foliage Color: Gray green
Flower Color: White
Flower Season: Spring
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil, Calcareous soil
Exposure Adaptations: Wind, Heat, Drought, All day sun
Function: Rock gardens, Residential spaces, Grouped, Banks, Background plant

Maintenance

Low maintenance plant requiring little, if any pruning. If a bushier form is desired, pinch back after spring bloom before additional new growth (D).

References