Cyanea lanceolata is an unbranched shrub in the Campanulaceae (bellflower) family with a woody stem 1 to 3 m (3.3 to 9.8 ft) tall with sharp projections in juveniles becoming scabrous or smooth with age. Leaves are elliptic or oblanceolate, with blades 15 to 60 cm (6 to 24 in) long, and 5.5 to 14 cm (2.2 to 5.5 in) wide and a lower leaf surface pubescent with simple hairs or rarely glabrous. Inflorescences are 4- to 16- flowered, with peduncles2 to 10 cm (0.8 to 4 in) long. The calyx lobes are triangular and 1 to 3 mm (0.04 to 0.1 in) long. The corolla is pale to dark magenta, often with lighter or darker longitudinal stripes. Berries are ovoid to pear-shaped with a broad end, and 1.6 to 2 cm (0.6 to 0.8 in) long.