This species is a solitary palm with a slender, ringed trunk that often darkens as it ages.  It features a green crownshaft that contrasts with its smooth, gray trunk. The crown is full and rounded, with bushy, plumose leaves that are bright green above and slightly paler beneath, forming a lush, feathery canopy.  Its inflorescences emerge below the crownshaft, bearing both male and female flowers, and are followed by clusters of glossy red fruits about the size of a small plum. The genus Normanbya and the species name normanbyi both honor George Augustus Constantine Phipps, the 2nd Marquess of Normanby, who served as Governor of Queensland in the 1870s. In other words, the palm’s full name is a double tribute to Lord Normanby.