This evergreen rose with a Mediterranean distribution is present in all regions of Italy with the exception of Piedmont, Valle d'Aosta and Trentino-Alto Adige. It grows in open maquis vegetation, sometimes also in the warmer aspects of deciduous forests and their margins, both on limestone an on base-rich siliceous substrata, on rather deep clay soils that are dry in summer, below the lower montane belt, with optimum in the Mediterranean belt. The species is found on the edge of the Sardinian temporary ponds, in contact with mesophilous scrub vegetation. The false fruits, rich in vitamin C, can be used for the preparation of jams. The genus name is the common name of wild roses in Latin, deriving from the Greek 'rodon'; the species name refers to the evergreen leaves. Flowering period: May to June.

Italian name(s): Rosa bianca (Sardegna), Rosa damaschina salvatica (Toscana), Rosa de' morti (Calabria), Rosa di S.Giovanni (Italia), Rosa di sipala (Calabria), Rosa lustra (Toscana), Rosa sarvaggia (Sicilia), Rosa sempreverde (Italia), Rostinella bianca (Campania, Ischia), Rusidda spinusa (Sicilia, Avola), Sponsa di rosi (Sicilia).