This is certainly the season for rock roses. All over San Diego, they are cheerfully blooming away in that happy, drought tolerant way that they do. Rock roses are one of the most floriferous of the low water use plants, and they come in a wonderful variety of sizes and colors, so there is almost certainly a spot for one in your garden somewhere. Just keep in mind that they love warm full sun.
The ones I have here are:
Cistus ‘Victor Reiter’ (above) to 3′ height and width
Cistus skanbegii is covered in smaller pale pink blossoms, 2′ tall and wide
Cistus purpureus, deep pink blooms with red centers, 3′ tall and wide
Cistus ‘Sunset’ is low growing like a tall groundcover, to 12″ tall and 24″ wide with silver foliage
Cistus landifer, to 3′ tall and wide with white flowers that have deep red spots
Cistus salvifolius: low spreading to 18″ tall and 24″ wide with white blooms and golden centers
I think rock roses are just one reason why a drought tolerant landscape design does not have to be wild looking or colorless! Have other low water use plants that you depend on in your garden? Leave a comment- we’d love to hear your favorites! (You can do it by clicking on the 1 Comment in blue below).
Want to save water but still have a garden that is overflowing with blossoms? Go to the contact us page at www.sageoutdoordesigns.com and ask us to help you make over your outdoor space!
Wiseman, the Principal, has been a San Diego landscape designer
for the past ten years. Find out more at www.sageoutdoordesigns.com
