Helianthemum bystropogophyllum is listed as Critically Endangered for it is known from only two locations, with an area of occupancy of 2 km². The population is severely fragmented and suffers from extreme fluctuations which cause the individuals to nearly completely disappear every eight to 12 years. The habitat is declining due to grazing, drought, landslides and natural fires and the species suffers from natural competition.

This species is endemic to the island of Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain (Martín Osorio et al. 2004), where it grows from 1,100 to 1,350 m asl. Its presence has been reported in two locations: Montaña de los Hornos (La Aldea de San Nicolás) y Montaña de las Brujas (Tejeda) (Á. Marrero pers. comm. 2011), both in the massif of Inagua 2.5 km from each other. The location Montaña de las Brujas comprises three subpopulations, 200 to 700 m from each other.

Its distribution appears highly fragmented (Dirección General de Medio Natural y Política Forestal del MARM 2007). Its area of occupancy is 2 km².

Total population has been estimated in 330 individuals: 32 specimens in Montaña Los Hornos (Martín Osorio et al. 2004) and 298 individuals in Montaña de Las Brujas (Almeida and Marrero 2004), comprising three subpopulations with 240, 28 and 30 adult individuals each.

The populations suffer from extreme fluctuations which cause the individuals to nearly completely disappear every eight to 12 years (Dirección General de Medio Natural y Política Forestal del MARM 2007); the survival of the species depends on the seed bank of the soil.

It occurs primarily in phonolite ignimbrite substrates with low soil retention. Also part of rupicolous communities in the domains of pine forest, on slopes with 80-85° and 5-10% shrub cover. It is most commonly accompanied by the following species: Greenovia aurea, Chamaecytisus proliferus, Babcockia platylepis, Hypericum reflexum, Aeonium simsii, Asparagus scoparius, Echium onosmifolium, Sonchus acaulis, Descurainia preauxiana and Lobularia canariensis. The secondary habitat corresponds to platforms and foot cliffs of pine forest Micromerio pineolentis-Pinetum canariensis communities and Greenovio-Aeonietum caespitosi rupicolous communities.

Seedlings were observed in the immediate environment of mother plants and by observations in subsequent years it is clear that the population evolved in cohorts, showing extreme fluctuations in the number of adult individuals. It blooms in spring, May or April and fruits from May to July, although it may withhold some seeds in the capsules until August. It does not develop vegetative propagation.

Main threats are grazing, natural competition, limited ecological resilience, poor reproductive strategy, drought, landslides and natural fires (Martín Osorio et al. 2004).

No traditional use or trade for this species is known, although it may have been collected along with other species to be used for livestock

Helianthemum bystropogophyllum is listed as priority species on Annex II of the Habitats Directive and under Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention). It is listed as CR B2ab(iii)c(iv) in the Spanish Red List 2008 (Moreno 2008) and as species "En peligro de extinción" in the national and regional catalogues of threatened species.

The species occurs within the protected areas Reserva Natural Inagua (SCI) and Parque Rural del Nublo (SCI) (Martín Osorio et al. 2004). Cultivation has been developed with limited success, while there have been good results in micropropagation in the Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo and the forest home of Cortijo de Pajonales. Seeds are stored in the germplasm banks of Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo and E.T.S. de Ingenieros Agrónomos de Madrid.

Proposed measures include cultivation and micropropagation of the species, reintroduction, storage of seeds in germplasm banks, establishment of fences and population monitoring.