This annual plant with a wide Eurasian distribution is present in all regions of Northern Italy (as an ephemeral weed in Friuli Venezia Giulia), and in Sardinia. It grows in rather moist environments, in rice fields, along forest trails, on wet to moist, sandy siliceous soils, from sea level to about 500 m. The species is rare on the edge of the Sardinian temporary ponds. The genus name derives from the Greek 'gypsos' (gypsum) and 'philos' (lover), in reference to the ecology of some species; the species name might be misleading, since the species almost never occurs on walls. Flowering period: May to June.

Italian name(s): Gipsofila dei muri (Italia), Gipsofila minuta (Italia), Gipsofila murale (Italia).