Web Special
Rockrose Winter Survival at Joy Creek Nursery

At Joy Creek Nursery (link to http://www.joycreek.com) in Scappoose, Oregon, co-owner Maurice Horn grows a variety of Cistus and Halimium species and cultivars in a dry border with excellent drainage. He reports that during the winter of 2008-2009, temperatures dropped to 10 degrees F in mid-December after a mild autumn. Total snow accumulation was just under three feet. There were only one or two sun days in January, February and March. Below are Horn’s observations of how his plants fared.

Plants that survived with no signs of winter damage:
Cistus ‘Anne Palmer’
Cistus x argenteus ‘Paper Moon’
Cistus x argenteus ‘Stripey’
Cistus x cyprius var. ellipticus ‘Elma’
Cistus ‘Jessamy Beauty’
Cistus x ledon
Cistus ‘Little Gem’
Cistus ‘Snow Fire’
Halimium lasianthum ‘Sandling’
Halimium x pauanum

Plants that survived with winter damage:
Cistus x canescens ‘Albus’
Cistus crispus ‘Descanso’
Cistus x dansereaui ‘Decumbens’
Cistus x dansereaui ‘Jenkyn Place’
Cistus x dansereaui ‘Portmeirion’
Cistus ‘Ruby Cluster’
Halimium calycinum

Plants that died:
Cistus x aguilarii
Cistus ladanifer ‘Blanche’
Cistus x bornetianus ‘Jester’
Cistus creticus ssp. creticus ‘Lasithi’
Cistus libanotis ‘Major’
Cistus monspeliensis
Cistus x ralletii
Cistus x purpureus ‘Brilliancy’
Cistus ‘Santa Cruz’
Cistus x pulverulentus ‘Sunset’

For more information:
Joy Creek Nursery
20300 NW Watson Road
Scappoose, OR 97056
(503) 543-7474
catalogue@joycreek.com