It is a low growing plant with an erect upright habit or sometimes with ascending tops with bright yellow flowers.

Plants bloom in late spring through the summer into early autumn.

The plant is native to Eurasia but is an introduced species in many areas of the world, including much of North America.

A population of E. gallicum was studied in a limestone quarry near Syracuse, New York between 1976 and 1981.

Cohorts of seedlings germinating in the spring exhibited markedly different survivorship patterns (Types I, II, and III were all noted) based on prevailing weather conditions.