Cistus is a genus of flowering plants in the rockrose family Cistaceae, of which there are about twenty varieties.

It’s a perennial shrub found on dry or rocky soils throughout the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Portugal through to the Middle East, and also on the Canary Islands; they do really well in my SoCal garden.

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I’ve had really good success propagating them, too. Here’s how I do it:

1. Snip 6-inch cuttings off stems that have not yet flowered.
2. Remove lower pairs of leaves, keeping only the topmost one or two pairs at the crest.
3. Dipping the cuttings in powdered rooting hormones spurs root growth.

Perfect for a hot summer garden with no rain in sight.