Symplocos adenophylla grows as a shrub or tree up to 30 metres (100 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 40 centimetres (16 in). Bark is grey to dark brown or black. Its fragrant flowers feature a white to yellow corolla. Fruit is blue when ripe. Habitat is forests from sea-level to 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) altitude. S. adenophylla is found in China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.