The species is a perennial flowering plant which has scalloped, blue-gray leaves.

[2] Glaucium grandiflorum grows 6–40 centimetres (2.4–15.7 in) and can have one or more main stems.

The pedicals, when fruiting, can be up to 9 centimetres (3.5 in) long, and are erect or contorted and hairy.

[3] Numerous alkaloids have been isolated from the plant, including norchelidonine, dihydrochelerythrine, 8-acetonyldihydrochelerythrine, protopine, allocryptopine, corypalmine, and tetrahydropalmatine.

Glaucium grandiflorum is found in disturbed habitats and shrub-steppes.