It is native to the southern foothills of the south-western and central Alps of Italy and Switzerland, but widely introduced elsewhere.

Leaves are finely divided and yellow-green to gray-green, often remaining over winter.

Flowers are 2 centimetres (0.75 in) long, borne in racemes on short, branched, leafy stems from late spring to autumn.

Its seeds, dark brown with white elaiosomes, are held in oval, flat pods.

It grows wild in cracks in old walls where drainage is excellent.