This species is widespread and rather commonly encountered, and characterized by small triangular stipules; medium-sized to rather small, shortly petiolate leaves; cymose, rather lax inflorescences borne at the apex and in the upper axils of the stems; small calyx lobes; small funnelform corollas; and small fruits. Very few fruiting specimens have been seen of this species, which is separated from the similar species Danais rhamnifolia basically only by the corollas so its fruiting specimens could easily be misidentified as that species.

Danais ligustrifolia is similar to Danais rhamnifolia, but Puff & Buchner (1994) distinguished the latter by its cylindrical corollas and generally longer or at least broader leaves. Danais ligustrifolia is very similar to and sometimes difficult to separate from Danais breviflora, which has slightly smaller corollas and as noted by Puff & Buchner may not be distinct; and Danais microcarpa, which is found at generally higher elevations and has smaller narrower leaves.

For more detalied habit and distribution information on this species, see the Madagascar Catalogue Project. (To access that data, in the upper right of this web screen, click on "Choose Project", and then the corresponding database from that list.)