Cerinthe major forms clumps along the roadside and at the edges of fields. It is an unusual plant growing in the spring to form erect branches ending in a curved stems which are clasped by dull green overlapping leaves. The tubular yellow and brown flowers, drop down from the axil of the terminal leaves, with new flowers developing as the stem grows. This arrangement is known as a scorpoid cyme as it resembles the tail of a scorpion. The fruits which are hard, black nutlets, develop in pairs surrounded by 5 green sepals.

The flowers are frequently visited by bees and this is reflected in the common English name. The Greek and scientific name means large bee's wax flower.