Heteropyxis natalensis (SA Tree List No. 455) is a (sometimes) deciduous shrub or small tree of 4 to 10m. The bark is pale grey, flaking in patches on older stems, revealing white underbark. The leaves are lanceolate with prominent midribs on the shiny upper surfaces.

The flowers are pale yellow and fragrant. They grow in abundant axillary and terminal flowerheads.

The fruit capsules are oval, embedded partly in calyx remains. The empty capsules may be found on the tree for months after the valves have sprung open to release the seeds (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002).