Cistus salviifolius

Sage leaf rockrose

Family: Cistaceae · Type: shrub · Not Native

Sage leaf rockrose is a naturalized shrub found in southern California Coast, southern Southern California, and San Gabriel Mountains in disturbed places at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces white flowers with yellow bases, approximately 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters across with delicate petals. Growing to less than 1 meter tall with predominantly nonglandular hairs, it forms a compact, spreading shrub. Its leaves are wrinkled, ovate to elliptic, measuring 1 to 4 centimeters long with a short petiole 2 to 10 millimeters in length. The plant produces fruits with 5 distinct valves, contributing to its distinctive botanical character.

Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed places

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: < 1000 m

Bioregions: s CCo, s SCo, SnGb

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.