A large fungus with yellow colours wich turns orange from the center of the cap with age. The cap is smooth without scaly velar remnants. The rim of the bulb also turns orange-red on handling.

C. olearioides has a preference for open woodland and park land with oak (Quercus), hazel (Corylus) and hornbeam (Carpinus). It is likely to be confused with C. alcalinophilus, which however seems to prefer closed forests, and grows in association with beech (Fagus).