A usually multi-stemmed shrub or small tree,  3–10 m tall, occurring in the understory of moist evergreen forest. Bark is grey to brown. Branches are horizontal; the young branchlets are green. Leaves are ovate, 150–260 × 100–120 mm, hairless, the upper surface is shiny dark green with conspicuous net veining, the lateral veins are indented to give a quilted appearance, with paler green veining that is prominent below. The petiole is stout, 10 mm long, and the stipules are conspicuous, 10–30 mm long and up to 10 mm wide.

Flowers are white, scented and held erect in loose heads on branched stalks, in spring to summer (Sept.–Feb.). The calyx tube is 2–3 mm long, axillary. The corolla tube is very slender, up to 80 mm long, with lobes about 7 mm long, bending backwards, and a protruding style. Fruit is oblong, up to 40 × 25 mm, soft, yellow to pale red, crowned with persistent calyx lobes and containing many seeds, from midsummer to midwinter (Jan.–June). Seed is 5 mm long, pale brown, with obvious striations.

Oxyanthus pyriformis closely resembles O. speciosus subsp. gerrardii but its flower tubes are longer, up to 80 mm compared to 35 mm, and its area of distribution is much more limited.