Grey-leaved cistus
Cistus albidus
ShrubPlacenta
A tough, fast pioneer shrub that colonises bare, poor ground and feeds early pollinators. Short-lived and flammable when dry — nature's first responder, not a long-term fixture.
Tolerances & traits
- Strata
- Shrub
- Lifecycle
- Placenta
- Soil preference
- Rocky, Sandy
- Soil pH range
- 6 – 8
- Min. temperature
- -10°C
- Min. rainfall
- 400 mm/year
- Wind tolerance
- High
- Frost tolerance
- Medium
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Irrigation needed
- Low
How to manage it
Fast fire-adapted pioneer that conditions poor soil and feeds pollinators; cut back lightly after flowering to prevent legginess.
Watch out for
Short-lived and highly flammable when dry; resents rich or wet soils, waterlogging and root disturbance when transplanting.
Design your line to see how your land fits Grey-leaved cistus.
Start designing your line →Related species