Hyoscyamus is a slightly sticky, hairy annual or biennial. A rosette of basal leaves grows in the first year, followed in the second year by an erect, simple or slightly branched stem, up to 80cm tall and covered with sticky hairs.
The alternate leaves are oval, deeply toothed. The lower leaves are stalked, the upper semi-enclosing.
The flowers grow from the axils of the upper leaves and have a bell-shaped, glandular, hairy, markedly veined calyx running into five sharply pointed tips and a funnel-shaped, yellowish, externally hairy petals with violet veins and a reddish-violet mouth.

The plant grows in waste places and disturbed ground in Britain and Europe, mainly on lowlands. Over-wintering plants flower in Spring, the annuals in Summer.

It was once believed to have aphrodisiac properties and was an ingredient of love potions.

Growing Instructions:
To increase germination rates sow the seed mid-winter or early spring to subject seed to cold moist conditioning or chill in wet sand for 2 weeks before sowing.
Then it should germinate in 2 weeks.
Plant in light, well drained soil.
Full sun to part shade. Likes more shade in warmer climates.