Cistus monspeliensis

Name: Cistus monspeliensis - Montpellier Rock Rose
Brand: Cistus
SKU: pda433-9
Price: 5.9 EUR
Availability: InStock

€5,90

Organic

Sustainable

Locally grown

Cistus monspeliensis is an evergreen Mediterannean shrub with highly fragrant foliage and an abundance of little white flowers in the spring.

The leaves are sticky to the touch, lance-shaped and evergreen. The shape of the leaves gives it a slightly more graphic appearance than the Cistus x nigricans.

The white, cup-shaped flowers feature a center of yellow stamens and sometimes display a touch of yellow at the base of their petals.

Highly fragrant, the blooms attract butterflies.

Though each flower lasts only a day, their abundance and continuous renewal create a spectacular floral display for several weeks.

Flowering	April, May, June
Exposure	Full Sun
Frost Tolerance	-1°C to -5°C
Size	1m H x 1m W
Soil	Dry, Poor, Sandy, Well-Draining
Planting Season	March to May, September to November

pda433-9

€5,90

3 left

🪴9x9 cm

🚂 Ships across EU
🌱 Grown in our nursery

Floral Morphology

Members of the Cistaceae, including the genus Cistus, typically produce solitary or cymose inflorescences with showy, crêpe-like petals.

Flowers are actinomorphic (characterized by radial symmetry), pentamerous, and range from 2 to 8 cm in diameter depending on species. Petals are usually white, pink, or purple with conspicuous yellow stamens. Sepals (3–5) are persistent and may be hairy or glabrous.

Leaves are opposite, simple, entire, and often covered with glandular trichomes secreting aromatic resins such as labdanum. This resin imparts drought resistance and fragrance.

Reproductive Biology

Flowers are hermaphroditic, often protandrous (anthers mature before stigmas), which encourages cross-pollination. Despite this, many species retain a level of self-compatibility, ensuring reproduction under low-pollinator conditions.

Pollination is predominantly entomophilous, with bees, beetles, and flies visiting for pollen rather than nectar.

Seeds are borne in dehiscent capsules containing numerous small seeds adapted for germination after disturbance (particularly fire).

Ecology & Adaptations

Cistaceae are emblematic of Mediterranean-type ecosystems on poor, rocky soils. Key adaptations include:

High Drought tolerance via resinous, sclerophyllous (a sclerophyll is a type of vegetation that is adapted to long periods of dryness and heat) leaves.
Fire-related regeneration, with seeds requiring heat shock or smoke compounds to germinate.
Symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi (notably Tuber spp.), which enhance nutrient uptake in low-fertility soils.