Voacanga havilandii grows as a small tree up to 15 metres (50 ft) high, with a trunk diameter of up to 15 centimetres (6 in). The bark is pale green to whitish. Its flowers feature a white or cream corolla. The fruit is up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter. Its habitat is lowland forest from sea-level to 200 metres (700 ft) altitude. V. havilandii is endemic to Borneo.