Cistus hirsutus Lam.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘This pretty plant is a native of Spain, and some other parts of the South of Europe, and is readily distinguished from all others by its very large pyramidal calyx and small capsules; it is often confused with C. laxus in the nurseries; but a comparison of our figures will readily distinguish them.  The present plant is hardy enough to bear our Winters in the open borders without protection, except very severe ones, when a mat placed round it will preserve it well; but this is very seldom needed: when grown in the ground it is much more robust than the plant from which our drawing was made, which was grown in a pot; it produces a great profusion of flowers, which continue to expand in succession for a considerable time.

Our drawing was taken at the Nursery of Messrs. Whitley, Brames, and Milne, at Fulham, last Summer, where we have also obtained drawings of many very rare, and some quite new species: the present plant thrives well in the common garden soil; or if grown in pots, it succeeds best in a mixture of sandy loam and peat.  Young cuttings, planted under hand-glasses in August or September, or any time between that and the middle of February, will strike root freely; when they are rooted, they must be managed as mentioned under C. purpureus; young plants may also be raised from seeds, which ripen plentifully.’  [Sweet – Cistinae t.19/1825-30].

Introduced to England in 1656.  [JD].

History at Camden Park

Listed only in the 1857 catalogue [T.315/1857].

Notes

Cistus hirsutus Lapeyr. (1813) = Helianthemum polymorphum Pourr. ex Willk.