It is a rare species of flowering plant in the bellflower family, that is endemic to Hawaii where it is known only from the island of Kauai.

Delissea rhytidosperma, a Hawaiian lobelioid, is a shrub which grows up to 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) tall.

The tubular flowers have greenish or purplish petals and distinctive hairs next to the anthers.

[3] The plant's natural habitat is rocky cliffsides in moist forests dominated by Acacia koa.

This habitat has been destroyed and degraded by the action of feral pigs, goats, and mule deer,[2] and by exotic plant species.