The red rock rose is a species with a strictly Mediterranean distribution present in all Italian regions south of the Po River, and in Veneto. It grows in Mediterranean garrigues on siliceous substrates, more rarely on limestone, from sea level to about 800 m, but it is often also cultivated as an ornamental plant, above all in the Mediterranean Region. Seed germination increases significantly after the passage of fire, an adaptation that allows the plant to colonise wide burned areas. The species is sporadic on the edge of the Sardinian temporary ponds, in contact with Mediterranean maquis and garrigue vegetation. The genus name, from the Greek 'kìsthos' (capsule, basket), perhaps refers to the shape of the fruit and was already used by Dioscorides to designate a plant from which a resinous substance used as incense was extracted; the species name refers to the island of Crete, where the species is present, that of the subspecies comes from Greek and means 'with a woolly head'. Flowering period: April to May.

Italian name(s): Cisto cretese (Italia), Cisto di Creta (Italia), Cisto maschio (Toscana), Cisto rosso (Toscana), Mucchio maschio (Puglia, Lecce), Muciu biancu (Sardegna, Sard. settentr.), Murdegu (Sardegna, Cagliari), Murdegu femmina (Sardegna, Arizzo), Murdegu oinu (Sardegna, Arzana), Rosali (Calabria), Rosola (Basilicata), Rosolajo (Toscana), Rosolania (Campania, Ischia), Rusedda di furnu (Sicilia).