Andalucia Life Fauna and Flora, Flowers of Andalucia Southern Spain

October 2006, Sage Leaved Cistus - Cistus salvifolius

Very soon after the first rain you will see this spreading evergreen shrub suddenly burst into bloom with a profusion of five petalled, white flowers with deep yellow stamen. It is common in our area on maquis, and stony slopes. The cistus is a prolific plant and there are three very similar white flowered species common to this area, the Narrow Leaved Cistus which has sticky leaves, and the White Rockrose which is a low shrub to about ½ metre high. The Sage Leaved Cistus grows to about 1 metre high.