This species is characterized by its generally rather large leaves, its inflorescences with the axes often scorpioid, its rather large, funnelform, showy yellow corollas, and its rather large fruits. The plants are often villous or pilose with trichomes that frequently dry yellowed. Hamelia xerocarpa is rather variable in the density and distribution of the pubescence, leaf size and shape, petiole length, inflorescence size and development, and corolla length; Elias detailed the variation in corolla length (p. 119).

Elias (1976) recognized two varieties of this species, based mainly on pubescence details, number of leaf secondary veins, and calyx lobe shape and without discussion or comment about their characterization or geographic distributions. Both varieties are found generally throughout the range of the species, and apparently at least sympatrically within this range. Hamelia xerocarpa var. xerocarpa is general was characterized as more pubescent and with more secondary leaf veins and broader calyx lobes, vs. Hamelia xerocarpa var. costaricensis (Standl.) Elias.