Plants I'm Growing: First Blooms--Cistus Salvifolius (April 14, 2012)

First blooms of 2012 on the low-growing rock rose, Cistus salvifolius, appeared on April 14. A single flower opened a few days before that, but the real blooming began on the 14th. When in full bloom, the foliage is almost entirely obscured by the white flowers that cover the plant. The apple tree and the Ray Hartman Ceanothus are now in full bloom, and the wisteria flowers are beginning to fill out. A very pretty time of the year. Cistus salvifolius bloomed on March 14 in 2010 and April 2 in 2009. Can't seem to find a record for 2011. 

Plants I'm Growing: Cistus Salvifolius, "Snow Fountain" Weeping Cherry

First blossoms today on the "Snow Fountain" weeping cherry on the side of the house. Warmer weather has coaxed out just a few flowers, but soon the entire tree will be covered in white. In 2009, the plant bloomed on March 23. Thus, a year according to this plant was 356 days.

A single blossom opened on one of the prostrate rock roses (Cistus salivifolius) today as well. That seems very early. Only one bud has opened. Most of the buds don't even look fully formed. I suspect it will be several weeks before this plant is really in bloom, but, for the purposes of my botanical calendar, I record the first blossom today. The plant bloomed on April 2 in 2009. A year according to this plant was thus 346 days.

Plants I'm growing: First Blooms--Cistus salvifolius, Halimiocistus sahucii

First blooms today on two Cistus (Rock Rose) varieties in the garden, Cistus salvifolius (top photo) and Halimiocistus sahucii. When in full bloom, both these plants are so profusely covered with flowers that the foliage is barely visible.

Today, there is only one pioneer on each plant. It will be a week or so before they really start to take off. Still, it's nice to see them. Both plants are low growers. The sahucii stays within a few inches of the ground. The salvifolius forms a mound a few feet across and about 18 inches high. The flowers are similar, but the latter has somewhat bigger flowers of a slightly creamy hue. The sahucii flowers are an almost translucent white.