The species name hortensis (from Latin hortus, meaning "vegetable garden") refers to the easiness with which this plant can be cultivated.

The basal leaves have a petiole 5–10 centimetres (2.0–3.9 in) long and are palmate or “hand-shaped”, with 3-5 toothed lobes.

The solitary flowers are fragrant and range in color from white-bluish or mauve to red-purple, with a diameter of 3–6 centimetres (1.2–2.4 in).

They have 12-20 lanceolate and acute petals, with numerous bluish or violet stamens and blue anthers.

[clarification needed] This plant is endemic to Mediterranean basin and it is distributed in France, Italy, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, North Macedonia Montenegro and Turkey These plants grow at an altitude of 0–1,200 metres (0–3,937 ft) above sea level (rarely up to 1,800 metres (5,900 ft)).