[3] Sophora flavescens can grow to a height of 2 m. Its stem is marked with stripes and covered in soft hairs when young.

The plant produces terminal racemes measuring 15-25 cm, with numerous flowers spaced widely apart.

The flowers have slender pedicels and linear bracts with white, pale yellow, purple-red, or red spoon-shaped petals.

It mainly grows on mountainous slopes, sandy grassland inclines, shrub forests, or around the fields, typically at elevations below 1500 meters.

[citation needed] Chemical compounds isolated from S. flavescens include: Toxic effects from use of the root may include nausea, dizziness, vomiting, constipation, spasms, disturbance of speech, irregular breathing, respiratory failure and death.