Depending on the habitat in which Scolopia mundii is found to grow, it can assume contrasting growth forms shaped by the environmental conditions it is subject to. Under forest conditions it is a medium to tall tree, 10-35 m in height, with a spreading crown and often fluted trunk, up to 1.2 m in diameter. In more open situations, the species attains smaller dimensions, 3-10 m in height, with a compact, dense, and more balanced crown.

The bark is smooth and grey to brown in younger specimens, becoming somewhat rough and flaking with age. Branches are glabrous and may be unarmed or spinescent, the straight spines reaching up to 40 mm in length, usually on young shoots in the leaf axils. Galls reminiscent of fruits may be evident.

The leaves are simple, glabrous and leathery, with serrated margins, and are alternate in their arrangement. Certain Pondoland forms are seen to produce velvety leaves. The leaf veins loop short of the margin and are prominent on both the upper and lower surfaces, in 4-6 lateral pairs. Tertiary venation is evident on the undersurface. They are ovate in shape, tapering abruptly to a slender apex and broadly tapering to rounded at the base. Dimensions vary between 20-80 mm in length and 20-50 mm in width. Petioles are short, 3-10 mm, and are pink to red.

The small, fragrant, green-white flowers, produced from May to August, are borne in dense axillary racemes, 20-30 mm in length. They are bisexual, 4-8 mm in size, with numerous stamens clearly visible.

The fruit, measuring up to 13 mm in diameter, is a smooth, globose berry with a persistent style, containing 1 or occasionally 2, seeds. Fruit maturation and abscission takes 3-4 months, the fruit ripening yellow to orange. Fruiting times are between October and January during which period the profusion of berries lends the tree colour and appeal.

Scolopia mundii can superficially resemble Dovyalis lucida of the same family. The latter, however, is distinguished by the presence of irregular toothing, usually on the upper third of the leaf margin, and by the lack of prominent veins on the leaf undersurface.