Cistus ladanifer
Common name: 
Common Gum Rockrose
Pronunciation: 
SIS-tus la-DAH-ni-fer
Family: 
Cistaceae
Genus: 
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Evergreen shrub, 3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m) high, young branches sticky. Leaves opposite, simple, sticky, linear-lanceolate, nearly sessile, 4-8 cm long, glabrous above, gray pubescent below. Flowers singular, on short branches, large, 7-10 cm wide, white with a red-brown spot at the base of each the 5 petals, 3 sepals.
  • Sun, needs good drainage, somewhat drought tolerant.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 8      Native to southwest Europe and north Africa.
  • cistus: Greek name for evergreen shrub; ladanifer: bearing ladanum, a gum resin used in perfumery
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flowers

    flowers

  • flower

    flower