Halesia tetraptera monticola is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 30 feet (9.1 meters) tall and 20 feet (6.1 meters) wide. It has a rounded crown and its bark is gray and smooth when young, becoming rough and furrowed with age. The leaves are ovate and 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, with a serrated margin and a pointed tip. In spring, it produces clusters of white, bell-shaped flowers that hang down from the branches. These flowers are followed by four-winged fruit capsules that ripen in the fall.