About 17 species of evergreen shrubs from the Mediterranean region and the Canary Islands. They have opposite pairs of simple leaves and terminal clusters of five-petalled flowers like those of species roses with a central boss of many small stamens, early to mid-summer.

Uses

No species nor hybrid is fully hardy throughout the British Isles but a few survive most winters in a sheltered sunny site. The smaller species make splendid specimen plants for the larger rock garden. Well drained poorish soil (preferably alkaline) is a basic requirement. Propagation by seeds in spring or cuttings taken in late summer, the young plants overwintered frost-free.