Cistus x lusitanicus ‘Decumbens’ . (Rock Rose)

An aromatic, evergreen and hardy shrub, reaching 2 ft tall x 4 ft across after 4 years with a naturally rounded form. It’s quite likely one of the hardiest of the Cistus or ‘Rock Roses’. A great blob. Which, from us, is the highest flattery because we adore blobs and all things curvaceous. Think gently-rising dough: pillowy and bouncy. Essential for an Architecturally-minded gardener and for year-round interest in any fully-rounded (boom-tish) design. The interest really ramps up in early summer when this shrub flowers: extravagant quantities of crinkly petalled flowers will plaster the whole thing for at least a month. Each bloom lasts a single, fragile day, but it makes so many, and they’ll be relentlessly pestered by bees missile-targeted into their centres by the deep red landing markers smudged onto every single petal.

These lovely plants are vital in any credible dry gravel garden or Mediterranean setting: they can be seen growing on cliff tops overlooking the Atlantic in their native Portugal, so look out for them there if you need additional convincing. These ones are propagated from cuttings by us, so you’re onto a good thing.