It requires a warm subtropical to tropical climate that is cool but also frost-free or with only very slight winter frosts not below −4 °C (25 °F), with high summer heat, rainfall and humidity.

The bright green leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, and are oblong in shape, narrowed at the base.

The serrated edges of the leaves help to distinguish this tree from the closely related Laureliopsis philippiana, which has more deeply toothed leaf margins.

The tihue bears bundles of small yellow unisexual flowers, both male and female on every tree (monoecious).

Its wood is pale yellow in colour, with a fine and homogeneous texture: the growth rings are not conspicuous.