Native from the Black Sea and Transcaucasus to coastal southern and western Europe, and also well established as a ruderal in central Europe, Glaucium flavum has spread far beyond that range as a ballast waif and occasional garden escape. It should be expected elsewhere in the flora.

Plants biennial or perennial, to 8 dm. Stems branching. Leaves to 30 cm; basal numerous, blade densely pubescent; basal and proximal cauline with blade lyrate, 7-9-lobed; distal with blade ovate, cordate, distinctly clasping stem; margins deeply dentate. Flowers: pedicels stout, to 4 cm; sepals 20-30 mm; petals yellow, sometimes orangish, sometimes with reddish to violet basal spot, obovate, 25-40 mm. Capsules sublinear, mostly distinctly curved, sometimes straight, to 30 cm, glabrous, tuberculate, or scabrous. 2 n = 12.