Cyrtandra ferripilosa is a shrub growing 1.5 to 3.5 meters tall. It features pubescent stems that are rounded to angular. The leaves are simple, opposite, and sub-coriaceous, with elliptic-oblanceolate blades measuring 6.8–19.7 cm long and 1.7–7.7 cm wide. The leaves have a sub-acuminate apex, a cuneate base, hirsute surfaces, and entire or toothed margins. The petioles are 1.5–4 cm long and pubescent. The flowers occur in cymes 3–9 cm long, 1–6-flowered, typically found in the upper leaf axils, with pubescent pedicels and peduncles. The calyx is 21–22 mm long, pubescent, and 2–5(6)-lobed, with 15–16 mm long lobes. The corolla is usually bilabiate, lanceolate, and 25 mm long, with a coloration that varies from white to yellow, and possibly green, orange, reddish, purplish, or streaked, and is pubescent. The stamens are inserted about halfway up the corolla tube, with the two upper stamens being fertile. The ovary is superior, oblong-ovoid, and 2-carpellate, with a parietal placentation. The fruit is a fleshy or firm berry that is ovoid, ellipsoid to cylindrical, or occasionally subglobose, often tipped by a persistent stylar beak. The seeds are numerous, ellipsoid, minute, usually 0.4-0.5 mm long, and have a reticulate surface. It is found in woodland forests in mesic to wet montane ecosystems.