Their leaves are alternate, commonly palmately lobed, with small and caducous stipules.

The flowers are hermaphroditic and actinomorphic; the calyx has 5 sepals united at the base, which are not accompanied by an epicalyx (involucel).

The corolla has 5 free petals and an androecium of numerous stamens, typically with free filaments which are not fused in a staminal tube (column).

Some taxa in this subfamily were previously grouped under the now-obsolete family Bombacaceae, as recent phylogenetic research has shown that Bombacaceae as traditionally circumscribed (including tribe Durioneae) is not a monophyletic group.

Camptostemon, Lagunaria, Pentaplaris and Uladendron might more appropriately be placed in Malvoideae, as might the tribe Matisieae (Matisia, Phragmotheca and Quararibea).