Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally to very little. Cold hardy to about 18 degrees F. This is a great drought tolerant plant for stabilizing sloped areas or for other difficult areas. Its low ground-hugging nature makes it a good candidate for areas where a low fuel fire resistant plant is needed in the landscape.

Cistus salviifolius is widespread naturally through the Mediterranean Sea basin both throughout southern Europe and east to Turkey as well as in North Africa in Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. The name Cistus is from the Greek word "kistos" which was the name originally used to describe the plant in ancient Greece. The specific epithet "salviifolius" means foliage like a sage. This plant is sometimes erroneously listed as Cistus villosus prostratus, a name of no botanical standing. Cistus villosus and Cistus incanus are synonyms of Cistus creticus. We have grown and sold this attractive and useful plant since 1982. 

The information about Cistus salviifolius 'Prostratus' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.