In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

• Ask a question

« Looking for an organic approach | In the Garden front page | Bee Square Foot Garden update »

May 9, 2008

Easy, sun-loving rockroses

I’ve always thought I should plan a party to coincide with the bloom of the rockroses (Cistus).

Green, drought tolerant shrubs for most of the year, in late spring they suddenly surprise you with an abundance of bloom. The crepe paper like flowers seem to dance at the ends of the stems. At night they all fall away, then a whole new batch opens the next day. And the show goes on for a month.

Rockroses come in many sizes and shapes. There are ground-hugging sorts as well as sorts that soar to ten feet high or more. Flowers range from bright pink tinged with purple to white, light pink and clear pink. One of my favorites is Cistus ‘Sunset,’ (pictured), named for Sunset magazine. I love its soft, gray leaves against the clear, bright pink flowers.

Plant the low growing rockroses as part of a fire resistant landscape. While they require little water once established, some, especially the taller varieties, tend to get leggy and woody after six or eight years and need to be replaced. That said, my ‘Sunset’ rockrose is 10 or 12 years old. I shear it back periodically to keep it in bounds, but that’s it. And it rewards me with beautiful blooms year after year after year.

Ask a question

Please use the form below to submit your question. Because there is a 100-word limit for questions, a word counter is located directly beneath the box where you enter the your question.