Currently, a show of pink adorns a small area of the upper elevations of the UC-Hopland Research & Extension Center. During a past era of chaparral-brushland conversion to seasonal rangeland pasture, which took place from the late 1950s to early 1970s, a showy ornamental shrub was planted as part of a research project that was looking for adaptable, drought tolerant plants. Rock-rose (Cistus creticus L.) was one of those introduced plants, and it has persisted for over three decades, gradually spreading and increasing in coverage. It is still within the confines of a 100-foot diameter circle ... so the rate of spread (at this location) is extremely slow. This plant species, which is actually native to southern Europe, is now common along the central coast and south coast of California, especially in the south coast coastal brushlands. Rock-rose is also a common drought-tolerant ornamental with several cultivars for the nursery trade.
