Strophanthus gratus is a woody liana that can grow up to 25 metres (82 ft), with a trunk diameter of up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in). Its fragrant flowers feature a white corolla, topped by red or purple colour, with pink corona lobes. S. gratus has been used medicinally: ouabain derived from the plant's seeds is used as a treatment for heart failure. It has also been used as arrow poison. S. gratus is native to Liberia, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and also naturalized in Taiwan.