Andalucia Life Fauna and Flora, Flowers of Andalucia Southern Spain

November 2005, Grey Leaved Cistus, Cistus albidus

Sometimes known as sun rose or rock rose, the Cistus is from a large family that has been successfully interbred to produce many sub species that take pride of place in many gardens in the UK and America.

The flowers are short lived but produced in great profusion so the display can last for months. Now that we have seen the first rains you can expect to see this shrub anytime now, first producing greeny grey leaves followed by flowers in shades of pink and purple. It favours open maquis and limestone and is common in our area