Chionanthus polycephalus grows as a tree up to 20 metres (70 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 25 centimetres (10 in). The bark is dark grey. The flowers are creamy white. The fruit is yellowish, ovoid, up to 2.5 centimetres (1 in) long. The specific epithet polycephalus is from the Greek meaning "many-headed", referring to the inflorescence. Its habitat is hill forest. C. polycephalus is endemic to Borneo.