Virginia Tech Dendrology

rockrose Cistaceae Cistus spp. L. symbol: CISTU
Leaf: Opposite, simple, evergreen, oval to lanceolate, to 4 inches long and 3/4 inch wide, wavy edges, green above and pale pubescent below, sticky on both surfaces, usually aromatic.
Flower: Showy, resembling a rose flower, ranging in color from lavender to white - often with dark spots near the base of the petals, up to 3 inches across, 5 petals that are usually crinkly, the flower centers a mass of yellow anthers, flowering for most of the summer.
Fruit: A capsule, drying to brown at maturity.
Twig: Initially green-brown and pubescent, becoming smooth and red-brown, with narrow leaf scars.
Bark: Gray or gray-brown and smooth.
Form: Shrubs, 3 to 5 feet tall and of greater width.
Looks like: white sage - fragrant sage - purple sage - black sage

Additional Range Information: Cistus spp. is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information