Hibiscadelphus giffardianus, of the Malvaceae (mallow) family, is a tree up to 7 m (23 ft) tall with the trunk up to 30 cm (12 in) in diameter and whitish bark. Leaves are heart-shaped and 10 to 30 cm (4 to 12 in) long with a broad tip, a notched base, and stalks nearly as long as the blades. Flowers are typically solitary in the axils of the leaves and have stalks 1.5 to 4 cm (0.6 to 1.6 in) long. Five to seven filament-like bracts are borne below each flower and the calyx is pouch-like. The overlapping petals form a curved bisymmetrical flower with the upper petals longer, typical of bird pollinated flowers. The flowers are grayish green on the outside and dark magenta within, and 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3 in) long. The fruit is woody with star-shaped hairs.