Strophanthus boivinii grows as a deciduous shrub or small tree sometimes up to 30 metres (98 ft) tall, with a bole diameter up to 40 centimetres (16 in). Its flowers feature a yellow-orange turning reddish brown corolla tube. Vernacular names for the plant include "wood shaving flower". Habitats are deciduous forests and thickets, from sea-level to 800 metres (2,600 ft) altitude. S. boivinii is used in local medicinal treatments for gonorrhoea, colic, wounds and itches. The plant is native to Madagascar and is also found in Réunion and Mauritius.