The cap is convex when young, later flat, mostly bright cinnabar to carmine red; often with yellow spots and up to 10 cm in diameter.

The gills are pale straw-yellow, brittle, and occasionally with a red edge at the rim of the cap.

[1] This mushroom is commonly found in coniferous forests[citation needed] or near beech trees.

The rare Russula pseudointegra is distinguished by its hot-tasting flesh.

Red-stemmed forms of R. rosea could also be confused with Russula xerampelina, but the latter has softer flesh and no woody flavour.