This species was diagnosed by Andersson (1998) as having thicker-textured elliptic leaves that are not shiny above and have tufted domatia, the calyx limb 2.5-3 mm long, somewhat larger flowers with the corolla tube 14-15 mm long, and thinner-textured capsules. This species is similar in general aspect to C. officinalis, with smaller flowers and pit domatia on the leaves, and to C. pubescens, with thinner-textured, usually broader leaves. Cinchona nitida is also similar to C. lancifolia, which Andersson separated by its leaves that are shiny above, its calyx limb that is lobed for ca. 1/3 its length, and its smaller flowers, with the corolla tube 8-12 mm long.