any plant of the genus Helianthemum; vigorous plants of stony alpine meadows and dry scrub regions

Helianthemum (rockrose, sunroses, rushrose, or helianthemum) is a genus of about 110 species of evergreen or semi-evergreen subshrubs. They are widely distributed in the Americas, Europe, and from North Africa to Asia Minor and Central Asia, with the centre of diversity in the Mediterranean region.