Cyanea grimesiana ssp. obatae, a member of the Campanulaceae (bellflower) family, is a shrub, usually unbranched, growing from 1 to 3.2 m (3.3 to 10.5 ft) tall. Its leaves are 27 to 58 cm (10.5 to 23 in) long by 14 to 32 cm (5.5 to 12.5 in) wide and are deeply cut into 9 to 12 lobes per side. The plant usually has small prickles on its stem and leaves. Clusters of 6 to 12 stalked flowers arise from the leaf axils. Sepals are fused to the ovary forming a cup 0.7 to 1.6 cm (0.3 to 0.6 in) long with small, narrow, triangular lobes at the tips. The petals are purplish or greenish to yellow-white, often washed or striped with magenta, and are about 5.5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) long and 0.5 to 1 cm (0.2 to 0.4 in) wide. Fruits are elliptical orange berries, 1.8 to 3 cm (0.7 to 1.2 in) long.