Rhamphospermum arvense reaches on average 20–80 cm (8–31 in) in height, but under optimal conditions can exceed one metre.

[12][13] A native of the Mediterranean basin, from temperate regions of North Africa, Europe and parts of Asia.

Within Asia, it is found in Arabian Peninsula (in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates), Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Caucasus, China, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Siberia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

In middle Europe, it is in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland.

In southeastern Europe, within Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia.

[2] It prefers calcareous soils in sunny places, at an altitude of 0–1,400 m (0–4,600 ft) above sea level.

Rhamphospermum arvense is the host plant of the caterpillars of some Lepidoptera, such as the small white, Pieris rapae.

The seeds are toxic to most animals, except birds, and can cause gastrointestinal problems, especially if consumed in large quantities.

[14] The leaves of wild mustard are edible at the juvenile stage of the plant;[10] they are usually boiled,[3] such as in 18th century, in Dublin, where it was sold in the streets.