This species has robust leaves and inflorescences, with cymose axes and medium-sized (ca. 15 mm long) corollas.

Guettarda hoffmannseggii was separated by Brazil Flora 2020, but does not seem distinct and is synonymized provisionally here. These names were published together, and have not been formally synonymized; these are synonymized under Guettarda spruceana here, because this name has been widely used while the other material referred to Guettarda hoffmannseggii has been the type. However, the material catalogued as the type material of Guettarda hoffmannseggii may include two species, with the BR duplicate potentially representing Guettarda aromatica.

Guettarda spruceana is similar to Guettarda platyphylla and Guettarda viburnoides.