diff --git a/src/agent/routine.rs b/src/agent/routine.rs
index 2dee6333..0389ac1e 100644
--- a/src/agent/routine.rs
+++ b/src/agent/routine.rs
@@ -538,11 +538,174 @@ pub fn next_cron_fire(
     }
 }
 
+/// Describe common routine cron patterns in plain English.
+///
+/// Falls back to `cron: <raw>` for malformed or complex expressions.
+pub fn describe_cron(schedule: &str, timezone: Option<&str>) -> String {
+    fn fallback(raw: &str) -> String {
+        if raw.trim().is_empty() {
+            "cron: (empty)".to_string()
+        } else {
+            format!("cron: {}", raw.trim())
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn parse_u8_token(token: &str) -> Option<u8> {
+        token.parse::<u8>().ok()
+    }
+
+    fn parse_step(token: &str) -> Option<u8> {
+        token
+            .strip_prefix("*/")
+            .and_then(parse_u8_token)
+            .filter(|n| *n > 0)
+    }
+
+    fn weekday_name(dow: &str) -> Option<&'static str> {
+        let normalized = dow.trim().to_ascii_uppercase();
+        match normalized.as_str() {
+            "MON" | "1" => Some("Monday"),
+            "TUE" | "2" => Some("Tuesday"),
+            "WED" | "3" => Some("Wednesday"),
+            "THU" | "4" => Some("Thursday"),
+            "FRI" | "5" => Some("Friday"),
+            "SAT" | "6" => Some("Saturday"),
+            "SUN" | "0" | "7" => Some("Sunday"),
+            _ => None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn format_time(hour: u8, minute: u8) -> String {
+        if hour == 0 && minute == 0 {
+            return "midnight".to_string();
+        }
+        let (display_hour, am_pm) = match hour {
+            0 => (12, "AM"),
+            1..=11 => (hour, "AM"),
+            12 => (12, "PM"),
+            _ => (hour - 12, "PM"),
+        };
+        format!("{display_hour}:{minute:02} {am_pm}")
+    }
+
+    fn ordinal(n: u8) -> String {
+        let suffix = if (11..=13).contains(&(n % 100)) {
+            "th"
+        } else {
+            match n % 10 {
+                1 => "st",
+                2 => "nd",
+                3 => "rd",
+                _ => "th",
+            }
+        };
+        format!("{n}{suffix}")
+    }
+
+    fn describe_inner(raw: &str) -> Option<String> {
+        let fields: Vec<&str> = raw.split_whitespace().collect();
+        let (sec, min, hour, dom, month, dow, year) = match fields.len() {
+            5 => (
+                "0", fields[0], fields[1], fields[2], fields[3], fields[4], None,
+            ),
+            6 => (
+                fields[0], fields[1], fields[2], fields[3], fields[4], fields[5], None,
+            ),
+            7 => (
+                fields[0],
+                fields[1],
+                fields[2],
+                fields[3],
+                fields[4],
+                fields[5],
+                Some(fields[6]),
+            ),
+            _ => return None,
+        };
+
+        if year.is_some_and(|v| v != "*") {
+            return None;
+        }
+
+        if sec == "0"
+            && hour == "*"
+            && dom == "*"
+            && month == "*"
+            && dow == "*"
+            && let Some(step) = parse_step(min)
+        {
+            return Some(match step {
+                1 => "Every minute".to_string(),
+                n => format!("Every {n} minutes"),
+            });
+        }
+
+        if sec == "0"
+            && min == "0"
+            && dom == "*"
+            && month == "*"
+            && dow == "*"
+            && let Some(step) = parse_step(hour)
+        {
+            return Some(match step {
+                1 => "Every hour".to_string(),
+                n => format!("Every {n} hours"),
+            });
+        }
+
+        let hour = parse_u8_token(hour).filter(|h| *h <= 23)?;
+        let minute = parse_u8_token(min).filter(|m| *m <= 59)?;
+        let time = format_time(hour, minute);
+        let time_phrase = if time == "midnight" {
+            "at midnight".to_string()
+        } else {
+            format!("at {time}")
+        };
+
+        if sec == "0" && dom == "*" && month == "*" && dow == "*" {
+            return Some(format!("Daily {time_phrase}"));
+        }
+
+        if sec == "0" && dom == "*" && month == "*" && dow.eq_ignore_ascii_case("MON-FRI") {
+            return Some(format!("Weekdays {time_phrase}"));
+        }
+
+        if sec == "0"
+            && dom == "*"
+            && month == "*"
+            && let Some(day_name) = weekday_name(dow)
+        {
+            return Some(format!("Every {day_name} {time_phrase}"));
+        }
+
+        if sec == "0"
+            && month == "*"
+            && dow == "*"
+            && let Some(day_of_month) = parse_u8_token(dom).filter(|d| (1..=31).contains(d))
+        {
+            return Some(format!(
+                "{} of every month {time_phrase}",
+                ordinal(day_of_month)
+            ));
+        }
+
+        None
+    }
+
+    let mut description = describe_inner(schedule).unwrap_or_else(|| fallback(schedule));
+    if let Some(tz) = timezone.map(str::trim).filter(|tz| !tz.is_empty()) {
+        description.push_str(" (");
+        description.push_str(tz);
+        description.push(')');
+    }
+    description
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use crate::agent::routine::{
         MAX_TOOL_ROUNDS_LIMIT, RoutineAction, RoutineGuardrails, RunStatus, Trigger, content_hash,
-        next_cron_fire,
+        describe_cron, next_cron_fire,
     };
 
     #[test]
@@ -698,6 +861,40 @@ mod tests {
         assert_ne!(next_utc, next_est, "timezone should shift the fire time");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_describe_cron_common_patterns() {
+        let cases = vec![
+            ("0 */30 * * * *", None, "Every 30 minutes"),
+            ("0 0 9 * * *", None, "Daily at 9:00 AM"),
+            ("0 0 9 * * MON-FRI", None, "Weekdays at 9:00 AM"),
+            ("0 0 */2 * * *", None, "Every 2 hours"),
+            ("0 0 0 * * *", None, "Daily at midnight"),
+            ("0 0 9 * * 1", None, "Every Monday at 9:00 AM"),
+            ("0 0 9 1 * *", None, "1st of every month at 9:00 AM"),
+            (
+                "0 0 9 * * MON-FRI",
+                Some("America/New_York"),
+                "Weekdays at 9:00 AM (America/New_York)",
+            ),
+            ("1 2 3 4 5 6", None, "cron: 1 2 3 4 5 6"),
+        ];
+
+        for (schedule, timezone, expected) in cases {
+            let actual = describe_cron(schedule, timezone);
+            assert_eq!(actual, expected); // safety: test-only assertion in #[cfg(test)] module
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_describe_cron_edge_cases() {
+        assert_eq!(describe_cron("", None), "cron: (empty)"); // safety: test-only assertion in #[cfg(test)] module
+        assert_eq!(describe_cron("not a cron", None), "cron: not a cron"); // safety: test-only assertion in #[cfg(test)] module
+        let weekdays_5_field = describe_cron("0 9 * * MON-FRI", None);
+        assert_eq!(weekdays_5_field, "Weekdays at 9:00 AM"); // safety: test-only assertion in #[cfg(test)] module
+        let weekdays_7_field = describe_cron("0 0 9 * * MON-FRI *", None);
+        assert_eq!(weekdays_7_field, "Weekdays at 9:00 AM"); // safety: test-only assertion in #[cfg(test)] module
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_guardrails_default() {
         let g = RoutineGuardrails::default();
diff --git a/src/channels/web/handlers/routines.rs b/src/channels/web/handlers/routines.rs
index f5d8db02..41bfee5a 100644
--- a/src/channels/web/handlers/routines.rs
+++ b/src/channels/web/handlers/routines.rs
@@ -112,12 +112,16 @@ pub async fn routines_detail_handler(
             job_id: run.job_id,
         })
         .collect();
+    let routine_info = RoutineInfo::from_routine(&routine);
 
     Ok(Json(RoutineDetailResponse {
         id: routine.id,
         name: routine.name.clone(),
         description: routine.description.clone(),
         enabled: routine.enabled,
+        trigger_type: routine_info.trigger_type,
+        trigger_raw: routine_info.trigger_raw,
+        trigger_summary: routine_info.trigger_summary,
         trigger: serde_json::to_value(&routine.trigger).unwrap_or_default(),
         action: serde_json::to_value(&routine.action).unwrap_or_default(),
         guardrails: serde_json::to_value(&routine.guardrails).unwrap_or_default(),
diff --git a/src/channels/web/server.rs b/src/channels/web/server.rs
index 48ef452c..acec3842 100644
--- a/src/channels/web/server.rs
+++ b/src/channels/web/server.rs
@@ -2346,12 +2346,16 @@ async fn routines_detail_handler(
             job_id: run.job_id,
         })
         .collect();
+    let routine_info = RoutineInfo::from_routine(&routine);
 
     Ok(Json(RoutineDetailResponse {
         id: routine.id,
         name: routine.name.clone(),
         description: routine.description.clone(),
         enabled: routine.enabled,
+        trigger_type: routine_info.trigger_type,
+        trigger_raw: routine_info.trigger_raw,
+        trigger_summary: routine_info.trigger_summary,
         trigger: serde_json::to_value(&routine.trigger).unwrap_or_default(),
         action: serde_json::to_value(&routine.action).unwrap_or_default(),
         guardrails: serde_json::to_value(&routine.guardrails).unwrap_or_default(),
diff --git a/src/channels/web/static/app.js b/src/channels/web/static/app.js
index a981d567..081b0f3a 100644
--- a/src/channels/web/static/app.js
+++ b/src/channels/web/static/app.js
@@ -3535,10 +3535,13 @@ function renderRoutinesList(routines) {
 
     const toggleLabel = r.enabled ? 'Disable' : 'Enable';
     const toggleClass = r.enabled ? 'btn-cancel' : 'btn-restart';
+    const triggerTitle = (r.trigger_type === 'cron' && r.trigger_raw)
+      ? ' title="' + escapeHtml(r.trigger_raw) + '"'
+      : '';
 
     return '<tr class="routine-row" data-action="open-routine" data-id="' + escapeHtml(r.id) + '">'
       + '<td>' + escapeHtml(r.name) + '</td>'
-      + '<td>' + escapeHtml(r.trigger_summary) + '</td>'
+      + '<td' + triggerTitle + '>' + escapeHtml(r.trigger_summary) + '</td>'
       + '<td>' + escapeHtml(r.action_type) + '</td>'
       + '<td>' + formatRelativeTime(r.last_run_at) + '</td>'
       + '<td>' + formatRelativeTime(r.next_fire_at) + '</td>'
@@ -3606,8 +3609,23 @@ function renderRoutineDetail(routine) {
   }
 
   // Trigger config
-  html += '<div class="job-description"><h3>Trigger</h3>'
-    + '<pre class="action-json">' + escapeHtml(JSON.stringify(routine.trigger, null, 2)) + '</pre></div>';
+  if (routine.trigger_type === 'cron') {
+    const summary = routine.trigger_summary || 'cron';
+    const raw = routine.trigger_raw || '';
+    const timezone = routine.trigger && routine.trigger.timezone ? String(routine.trigger.timezone) : '';
+    html += '<div class="job-description"><h3>Trigger</h3>'
+      + '<div class="job-description-body"><strong>' + escapeHtml(summary) + '</strong></div>';
+    if (raw) {
+      html += '<div class="job-meta-item">'
+        + '<span class="job-meta-label">Raw</span>'
+        + '<span class="job-meta-value">' + escapeHtml(raw + (timezone ? ' (' + timezone + ')' : '')) + '</span>'
+        + '</div>';
+    }
+    html += '</div>';
+  } else {
+    html += '<div class="job-description"><h3>Trigger</h3>'
+      + '<pre class="action-json">' + escapeHtml(JSON.stringify(routine.trigger, null, 2)) + '</pre></div>';
+  }
 
   // Action config
   html += '<div class="job-description"><h3>Action</h3>'
diff --git a/src/channels/web/types.rs b/src/channels/web/types.rs
index b8690b78..129a7071 100644
--- a/src/channels/web/types.rs
+++ b/src/channels/web/types.rs
@@ -735,6 +735,7 @@ pub struct RoutineInfo {
     pub description: String,
     pub enabled: bool,
     pub trigger_type: String,
+    pub trigger_raw: String,
     pub trigger_summary: String,
     pub action_type: String,
     pub last_run_at: Option<String>,
@@ -747,25 +748,34 @@ pub struct RoutineInfo {
 impl RoutineInfo {
     /// Convert a `Routine` to the trimmed `RoutineInfo` for list display.
     pub fn from_routine(r: &crate::agent::routine::Routine) -> Self {
-        let (trigger_type, trigger_summary) = match &r.trigger {
-            crate::agent::routine::Trigger::Cron { schedule, .. } => {
-                ("cron".to_string(), format!("cron: {}", schedule))
-            }
+        let (trigger_type, trigger_raw, trigger_summary) = match &r.trigger {
+            crate::agent::routine::Trigger::Cron { schedule, timezone } => (
+                "cron".to_string(),
+                schedule.clone(),
+                crate::agent::routine::describe_cron(schedule, timezone.as_deref()),
+            ),
             crate::agent::routine::Trigger::Event {
                 pattern, channel, ..
             } => {
                 let ch = channel.as_deref().unwrap_or("any");
-                ("event".to_string(), format!("on {} /{}/", ch, pattern))
+                (
+                    "event".to_string(),
+                    String::new(),
+                    format!("on {} /{}/", ch, pattern),
+                )
             }
             crate::agent::routine::Trigger::SystemEvent {
                 source, event_type, ..
             } => (
                 "system_event".to_string(),
+                String::new(),
                 format!("event: {}.{}", source, event_type),
             ),
-            crate::agent::routine::Trigger::Manual => {
-                ("manual".to_string(), "manual only".to_string())
-            }
+            crate::agent::routine::Trigger::Manual => (
+                "manual".to_string(),
+                String::new(),
+                "manual only".to_string(),
+            ),
         };
 
         let action_type = match &r.action {
@@ -787,6 +797,7 @@ impl RoutineInfo {
             description: r.description.clone(),
             enabled: r.enabled,
             trigger_type,
+            trigger_raw,
             trigger_summary,
             action_type: action_type.to_string(),
             last_run_at: r.last_run_at.map(|dt| dt.to_rfc3339()),
@@ -818,6 +829,9 @@ pub struct RoutineDetailResponse {
     pub name: String,
     pub description: String,
     pub enabled: bool,
+    pub trigger_type: String,
+    pub trigger_raw: String,
+    pub trigger_summary: String,
     pub trigger: serde_json::Value,
     pub action: serde_json::Value,
     pub guardrails: serde_json::Value,