Beautiful Flowering Shrubs 



gardens are ultimately traceable to this species as regards 

 one parent. It was introduced into England in 1629. 



The Cypress Rock Rose (C. cyprius) is one of these 

 hybrids, with the Laurel-leaved Rock Rose as the second 

 parent. " I consider it the most beautiful of all the 

 Cistus we can grow out of doors," says Mr. Bean. The 

 white petals show the characteristic red blotch, the stems 

 are smooth, the sepals scaly as in C ladaniferus, but 

 the large flowers are clustered as in C. laurifolius, and 

 the leaves are also reminiscent of that species. 



Another hybrid, C. purpureus, also shows these spotted 

 petals, but in this case the hue is a rich purple with a 

 crimson blotch ; it is claimed as the finest red Cistus in 

 cultivation. The flowers are in threes, but only two are 

 ever open together. The leaves vary from one to two 

 inches in length, and are narrow, smooth above, hairy 

 below. Its average height is about four feet, and it is 

 usually a bush as broad as high. Its second parent is 

 Cistus villosus, which has purplish-red flowers and very 

 hoary leaves, and it is said to be the first Rock Rose 

 that found its way into cultivation here, the date of its 

 introduction going back as far as 1597. Its dense felted 

 leaves are spatulate-shaped, with a short broad stalk. It 

 is not so hardy as the other species already mentioned. 



Cistus florentinus of our illustration is a natural 

 hybrid found wild in southern Europe. It is a good- 

 looking shrub, well known in our gardens. Its white 



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