It is found in desert washes, flats, and slopes, at elevations of 30–1,600 metres (98–5,249 ft).

Eschscholzia glyptosperma is an annual herb growing from a basal patch of leaves divided into pointed segments.

It produces erect stems up to about 25 centimeters (10 in) in height, each bearing a single flower.

The poppy flower is bright yellow, with petals one to two and a half centimeters long.

The fruit is a capsule 4 to 7 centimeters long filled with tiny rounded brown seeds.