With the other species of the genus Dendrocnide, it is known for the stinging hairs which cover the whole plant and cause severe pain when touched.

[1] Dendrocnide peltata is a dioecious rainforest tree.

The trunk grows to a diameter of 650 mm, and is usually crooked and lacking buttresses, while the bark is green or grey in colour, and rough, scaly or flaky in texture.

The large leaves, which are broadly ovate, usually peltate, rounded at the base, crenate, acute to acuminate, dark green above and pale green beneath, are clustered at the ends of the branches.

The small flowers grow as axillary inflorescences.