Cyanea lobata subsp. lobata is a shrub that grows to 1.3–2.3 meters in height, with sparingly branched, either smooth or sparsely muricate stems. Its leaves are simple and alternate, with oblong to obovate blades measuring 30–50 cm long and 10–15 cm wide across the lobes. The leaf apex is acuminate, the upper surfaces are glabrous, and the lower surfaces are sparsely pubescent or muricate along the midrib and veins. The leaf margins are irregularly lobed, featuring 12–25 deltate to triangular lobes per side, and the petioles are 7–22 cm long and sparsely muricate. The inflorescence comprises 5–12 flowers, with axillary peduncles of 30–75 mm long and 18–35 mm long pedicels. The hypanthium is obconical, measuring 8–12 mm in length and 3–6 mm in width. The calyx has five oblong lobes, 10–24 mm long and 3–7 mm wide, with an obtuse, apiculate apex. The corolla is greenish-white or purplish, 60–70 mm long, and 5–11 mm wide, pubescent, especially on the lobes. The tube is arcuate and dorsally cleft to about the middle, with lobes that spread to ¼–½ the length of the tube. The stamens are five in number, alternate with the corolla lobes, and connate with a glabrous staminal column. The anthers are glabrous, with all five having apical tufts of white hairs, opening by longitudinal slits. The ovary is inferior, 2-celled, with axile ovule placentation. The stigma is 2-lobed, transitioning from nonreceptive to receptive as the style grows through the anther tube. The fruits are yellow, globose berries with numerous small brown to black, smooth, and shiny seeds. They are ca. 0.7–0.8 mm long and contain a straight, short to spatulate dicotyledonous embryo embedded in oily endosperm. The plant is found in mesic valleys at 550–900 meters.