It is an evergreen trailing plant with loose terminal clusters of bright yellow, saucer-shaped flowers.

In the flower centre is a tight cluster of orange stamens, which are sensitive to the touch, and spread outwards to reveal the tall stigma in the middle.

The plant is common on chalk downs, and occasional in other grasslands, always on dry, base-rich soil.

This is a good pollen source for bees and there are several species of small beetle that feed on the foliage.

Common rock-rose is also the food plant for the larvae of several species of moth and butterfly such as the silver-studded blue (Plebejus argus).