Psychotria hobdyi is a tree species that can grow up to 8 meters tall, characterized by its grayish brown branches. The leaves are simple, opposite, and range from oblanceolate to narrowly obovate, measuring 11.2–22.3 cm long and 3.5–7.4 cm wide. They exhibit a glabrous to somewhat puberulent lower surface, with the entire leaf or venation sometimes appearing pink or rose-colored on the lower surface. The leaf margins may be weakly revolute, with 10–13 pairs of lateral veins. The stipules are broadly ovate, reaching up to 8 mm in length. Flowers are borne in inflorescences with a central axis and 2–3 nodes of verticillate branching, each branch usually ending in a 3–3-flowered cymule. These flowers are insect-pollinated, functionally unisexual, 4–5-merous, and often heterostylous, with a 4-6 lobed and cupular calyx measuring 2.5–3.5 mm in length and width. The corolla is white, with a 20–24 mm long tube and ovate lobes–subulate, 4.5–5.5 mm long. The fruit is drupaceous, orange, and either globose–ellipsoid or fusiform, measuring 8–9 mm long, and topped with a persistent calyx tube. The seeds are 1 per pyrene, usually conforming to the form of the pyrene; seed coat thin; with a small T-shaped invagination on the ventral side; endosperm otherwise not ruminate; carnose; the embryo small with flat; thin cotyledons; seeds with well-developed oily endosperm; or endosperm occasionally scanty or absent. It is found in mesic forests at elevations of 600–610 meters.