First described as a species in 2004, it was previously identified as Cistus symphytifolius, which it resembles.

[2] The leaves are elliptical to lanceolate, stalked (petiolate) and have netted (reticulate) veins.

[3] Cistus horrens was first described as a new species by Jean-Pierre Demoly in 2004;[1] it had previously been treated as C. symphytifolius.

[2] The specific epithet horrens is Latin for "standing erect, bristling".

[2] It is typically found at elevations of 300–1,500 metres (1,000–4,900 ft) in pine forests, in semiarid conditions.