The five narrow pointed sepals exceed the petals and are joined at the base to form a rigid tube with ten ribs.

Leaves are pale green, opposite, narrowly lanceolate, held nearly erect against stem and are 45–145 mm (1.8–5.7 in) long.

In parts of Europe, intensive mechanized farming has put the plant at risk and it is now uncommon or locally distributed.

The plant was believed to be completely extirpated in the United Kingdom until 2014, when a single specimen was found growing in Sunderland by an assistant ranger of the National Trust.

[1][5] Recent research highlights the various biological activities of common corncockle, including its cytotoxic effects on cancer cells, protective properties against oxidative stress, inhibition of Leishmania major culture growth, suppression of protein synthesis, and its antiviral, anti-angiogenic, and cholesterol-lowering activities.