It has been confused with Cistus clusii, which it resembles, resulting in some uncertainty in its distribution.

The upper surfaces of the leaves have only a few stellate hairs, particularly on the margins and the veins; the lower surfaces have a conspicuous vein and two dense bands of short stellate hairs.

[3] Cistus libanotis is native to the southwestern Iberian Peninsula (southern Portugal and south-west Spain) where it is commonly found in dry, sandy coastal areas from Campo de Gibraltar to Cape St. Vincent and between Alcácer do Sal and Grândola, but it can also be found as far inland as Paradas, Seville.

[4][5][6][7] There are records of this species in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia,[5] although these may belong to Cistus libanotis auct.

[4] A 2011 molecular phylogenetic study placed C. libanotis in the white and whitish pink clade of Cistus species.