Hyospathe elegans is an evergreen palm growing 1 - 8 metres tall. The plant can produce a single stem, or a cluster of up to 8 stems; these are unbranched; around 1 - 3cm in diameter; and topped with a crown of 5 - 11 leaves that can each be up to 2 metres long.The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.