Cistus cretan

The Cretan rockrose, also known as Cistus creticus or gray-haired rockrose, is a plant within the genus of rockroses (Cistus) and belongs to the rockrose family (Cistaceae). Its distribution area covers the entire Mediterranean region with the exception of the Iberian Peninsula.

The dried leaves (rockrose leaves - Cistus folium - C. creticus L.) or the dried annual shoots at flowering time (rockrose herb - Cistus herba - C. incanus L.) are used phytotherapeutically.

The Cretan rockrose is a dwarf shrub that reaches growth heights of 30 to 100, sometimes 150 cm. The leaves of the shrub are egg-shaped to elliptical, the branches are hairy. Cretan rockrose blossoms from December to June. The flowers reach a diameter of 4 to 6 cm and are purple or dark pink in colour.

Cistus creticus is the parent plant of Cisti incani herba, the dried leaves of the cistus bush.