Ficus altissima is a large, evergreen forest tree, growing to 30 m 0 abbr=on, with a spreading crown and often multiple buttressed trunks and characteristic of its subgenus Urostigma. The bark is smooth and grey, with small pale brown pustules. The branches are spreading and the twigs are hairy and often green when young. The leaves are alternate, elliptic to ovate, with entire margins and up to 100 by 40 mm. They are supported on short stalks and have sheathing stipules.

The flowers are solitary or