The species is an annual or perennial, growing to 2 m tall. The leaves are 10 ti 20 cm long and broad, palmately lobed with 5 to 7 lobes. The flowers are 4 to 8 cm diameter, with five white to yellow petals, often with a red or purple spot at the base of each petal. The fruit is a capsule up to 18 cm long, containing numerous seeds.