This species is characterized by its medium-sized, narrowly elliptic, thin- to somewhat thick-textured leaves, short and shortly tubular stipules that are truncate or occasionally aristate, terminal, pedunculate, cymose inflorescences, pedicellate flowers, short lobed calyx limbs ca. 1 mm, white to cream corollas with tubes 5-6 mm long and lobes 4-5 mm long, oblate fruits ca. 6 x 10 mm, and habitat in montane forest. The leaves on dried specimens are generally green sometimes flushed with gray or yellow. The leaf secondary veins do not generally form a submarginal vein, or this is present and weakly developed. The inflorescences are usually lax and with the axes often drooping. The fruits are not or only weakly laterally flattened. This species is somewhat variable morphologically, especially in leaf size and texture and number of flowers. Faramea candelabrum is commonly collected where it occurs, especially in ecological surveys.

Faramea candelabrum is similar to the montane species Faramea coerulea, which has more broadly elliptic leaves, axillary and occasionally also terminal inflorescences, and larger corollas and fruits. Faramea candelabrum is also similar to the montane species Faramea oblongifolia, with well developed submarginal leaf veins, longer tubular stipules that often split along one side, and larger corollas and fruits. Faramea candelabrum is also similar to Faramea phyllonomoides, which has acute stipules with well developed aristas.