Gouania hillebrandii is a sprawling shrub in the Rhamnaceae (buckthorn) family, up to 1.8 m (6 ft) tall, often comprised of a single unbranched or sparingly branched stem when below 0.6 m (2 ft) but becoming more branched and rounded with increased height. Branches are slender and covered with a rust- or ash-colored fuzz. Leaves are oval or oblong in shape, 5 to 7.6 cm (2 to 3 in) long by 2 to 2.5 cm (3/4 to 1 in) wide, broadly pointed, entire (without toothed or lobed edges) dark green, fuzzy and pale below, thin and somewhat papery. Flowers are quite small and nearly white, quite fragrant, borne on short fuzzy branching flower stalks that arise from the junction of the leaves with the stem. Flower stalks are 2.5 to 3.8 cm (1 to 1 1/2 in) long and bear 3 to 5 flowers each. The tiny brown seeds are in small, 3-winged capsules that are covered with soft white fuzz.