The oxlip is an herbaceous perennial plant growing 30 cm tall. Oxlip flowers have five petals, pale yellow in color. They grow in one-sided clusters and open out widely in the same direction. The light green tube-shaped calyx has darker green midribs.
Oxlip leaves are dark green in color and oval. They grow in a basal rosette formation and have long stalks.
As an early flowering plant, oxlip provides nectar for early emerging bees and butterflies which will in turn pollinate the plant.