The hoary rockrose is a very scarce plant that belongs to the cistus family. It is a Mediterranean species that can be found up to an altitude of 1,000 metres and is indigenous to the Maltese islands.

The plant, known in Maltese as ċistu roża, is found in garigue habitat in a few localities in the western part of Malta as well as in Gozo. It grows as a bush which in spring is covered with large pink flowers.

This plant, sometimes called pink rockrose, is used both as a food as well as for medicinal purposes.

The leaves can be made into a tea, while an oleo-resin found in the leaves and stems is used to flavour ice cream, chewing gum and cakes.

This plant is used both as a food as well as for medicinal purposes

The plant was used externally in traditional medicine to control bleeding and as an antibiotic and internally to treat catarrh and diarrhoea. As early as the 4th century BC, the ancient Greeks used rockrose extracts to treat all kinds of skin disorders and the common cold.

Recent scientific studies have shown that this plant has anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-microbial properties and is an effective treatment for flu, coughs and colds.

The cistus family is a small family consisting of about 200 different species known for their beautiful flowers. About 20 species are found in the Mediterranean region. Cistuses are found mostly in temperate climates as well as in North and South America. They are particularly well adapted to survive in poor soils and can become the dominant species in some areas.

portelli.paul@gmail.com