Hoary rock-rose

Description

Cistus × incanus L. is a hybrid between Cistus albidus and Cistus crispus. The name "Cistus incanus" (synonym C. villosus) has been used by other authors in a different sense, for Cistus creticus (at least in part). The English name hoary rock-rose may be used to refer to this species, among others. Because of confusion between the original species named by Linnaeus in 1753 and the way in which the name was used by later authors (see § Taxonomy), plants described under this name may actually belong to different species. C. × incanus is a shrubby plant, to about 1 m (3 ft) tall, with grey-green leaves and pink to purple flowers.