An ability to establish quickly and flower profusely makes Cistus ‘Bennett’s White’ ideal for new gardens and quick effect, but it’s also one of those classy shrubs which will be cherished in established gardens. Its a tough customer, equally at home in windy, sandy coastal gardens as it is in sheltered situations and good soils far from the sea. What it is fussy about is good drainage and plenty of sunshine. Apart from that all it needs is a light trim in autumn and the occasional removal of old stems at ground level. Can grow to 1.5 x 1.5m
The handsome, evergreen foliage makes this an easy shrub to fit into the garden and there are many rewarding ways of combining it with other plants. Among interesting possibilities are lavenders - English varieties in cold climates, French varieties where frosts are only moderate, even the long stemmed and forever flowering ‘Sidonie’ in frost free situations.
Echium fastuosum, with big fat blue flower spikes, blue flowered ceanothus, white flowered annual mignonette, purple-blue, bushy Hebes such as ‘Wiri Vision’ and ‘Ohau’, other low growing cistus, these are all attractive well performed shrubs to plant with Cistus ‘Bennett’s White’. One of the most interesting ways to use it is as a hedge-like row. It doesn’t grow thickly enough or adapt to hard pruning to ever be a proper hedge, but even four or five of it in a straight line or following the curve of a path looks great. Planting several Cistus ‘Bennett’s White’ and two or three Dichroa ‘Blue Sapphires’ together creates a pleasing white and blue contrast. Similarly, planting Cistus ‘Bennett’s White’ towards the rear of a group of perennials, with blue delphiniums, blue Campanulas, white miniature Watsonias and a white shrub rose such as the large flowered, single, prolific ‘Margaret Merril’ creates a memorable picture.