Wikstroemia skottsbergiana is a shrub or small tree in the Thymelaceae (akia) family and occurs in lowland wet forest on the island of Kauai. Internodes along the stems are 2 to 10 cm (0.8 to 4 in) long, pubescent, becoming smooth. Leaves are pale green, membranous, ovate to ovate-elliptic (oval with a short or no point), 8 to 9 cm (3 to 3.5 in) long, 3.8 to 5.4 cm (1.5 to 2 in) wide, and glabrous or the lower surface with scattered hairs along the midrib. Petioles are 3 to 8 cm (1 to 3 in) long, hirsute or with scattered hairs. Flowers are perfect (hermaphroditic), green-yellow in color, glabrous or with scattered hairs; flower stalks are usually less than 10 to 15 mm) (0.5 in long), thread-like, hairy, and often curved; calyx tube is less than 6 to 10 mm (0.5 in) long. Adult trees are 4 to 5 m (13 to 16 ft) tall, 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in ) in diameter at the base, and are moderately branched; stems are red to brown in color.