Helicia excelsa is a plant in the Proteaceae family. It grows as a tree up to 20 metres (70 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 25 centimetres (10 in). The bark is dark grey to blackish. Inflorescences bear up to three reddish brown flowers. Fruit is black, ellipsoid, up to 3 centimetres (1 in) long. The specific epithet excelsa is from the Latin meaning "lofty", referring to the tree’s growth. Habitat is forests from sea-level to 1,700 metres (5,600 ft) altitude. H. excelsa is found in Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.