Description
Labdanum (Cistus ladanifer) is a species of flowering plant in the family Cistaceae. It is native to the western Mediterranean region.
ladanifer is an evergreen shrub of loose, open habit with very sticky, narrow, aromatic leaves, dark green above, grey beneath. Flowers to 10cm in width, white with a deep red blotch at the base of each petal.
Plant Specifications
| Common Name | Common gum cistus, laudanum, labdanum, brown-eyed rockrose |
| Maximum Reachable Height | 4 to 5 feet |
| Flower Colour | White |
| Bloom Time | August |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to grow |
Planting and care
Labdanum care
Cistus ladanifer is a species of flowering plant in the family Cistaceae. It is native to the western Mediterranean region. Common names include gum rockrose, laudanum, labdanum, common gum cistus, and brown-eyed rockrose. It is a shrub growing 1 to 2.5 m (3 ft 3 inch to 8 ft 2 inch) tall and wide.
| Sunlight | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| Watering | Medium |
| Soil | Well-drained soil |
| Temperature | 24 degrees C |
| Fertilizer | Apply any organic fertilizer |
Labdanum special feature
Phylogenetic and divergence dating methods found that C. ladanifer diverged during the Pleistocene, long after the opening of the Strait of Gibraltar around 5 mya, which supports a hypothesis of dispersal for this species. Although its seeds fall close to the maternal plant, C. ladanifer may have successfully dispersed due to its preference for disturbed habitats.
Labdanum uses
Ornamental Use:
- The plant is used for an ornamental purpose