H. benghalensis is a high-climbing liana (woody, climbing vine) or large shrub, with white or yellowish hairs; leaves lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, to 20cm (8 in.) long; flowers pink to white, with yellow marks, in 10-30-flowered racemes (Bailey and Bailey 1976, in PIER, 2002). It has scandent branches up to 5m high. Leaves simple, opposite, blade usually elliptic and 6-18cm long (2.5-7 in) with an attenuate tip. The plant flowers intermittently during the year, and produces fragrant flowers borne in compact axillary racemes. The corolla consists of five free, elliptic to round, reflexed petals 1-1.7cm long (3/8-3/4 in), white with one petal yellow in the center, margins fringed. Fruit a samara with three spreading, papery oblanceolate to elliptic wing 2-5cm long (3/4-2 in) (Whistler 2000, in Starr et al. 2003).

H. benghalensis is widely cultivated in the tropics for its attractive and fragrant flowers; it can be trimmed to form a small tree or shrub or can be trained as a vine (Whistler 2000, in Starr Starr and Loope 2003). It is also occasionally cultivated for medicinal purposes (Starr Starr and Loope 2003). Hiptage holds a reputed position in Indian medicine. The leaves and bark are hot, acrid, bitter, insecticidal, vulnerary and useful in treatment of biliousness, cough, burning sensation, thirst and inflammation; it has the ability to treat skin diseases and leprosy (Agharkar, 1991).

Habitat variable (Bailey and Bailey, 1976, cited in PIER, 2002). Prefers climates ranging from warm temperate to tropical. Dry and moist areas from sea level to 1000m (3500 ft.) elevation in Hawai‘i (PIER, 2002).

Propagation occurs via seeds or cuttings. The seeds are readily dispersed by wind. (PIER, 2002)

Ornamental (GRIN-CA, 2002)

H. benghalensis is reported as invasive in Florida, Hawaii, La Réunion, Mauritius and Western Australia (Randall 2002, in Starr Starr and Loope 2003). The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC 2001) lists H. benghalensis as a category II plant, which are species that have shown a potential to disrupt native plant communities (Starr Starr and Loope 2003). Randall (2002) lists this species in the global compendium of weeds for Western Australia (Starr Starr and Loope 2003) and in tropical Australian rainforests it is a pest (Grice and Setter 2002). On Réunion island it spreads widely by its wind-dispersed seeds and it reported to climb over and smother native vegetation (PIER 2002, in Starr Starr and Loope 2003). It is also reported as invasive in Mauritius (PIER 2002, in Starr Starr and Loope 2003). H. benghalensis is reported as invasive in Hawaii (PIER 2002, in Starr Starr and Loope 2003). In addition, this species is listed by Staples et al. (2000) in their checklist of invasive or potentially invasive cultivated plants in Hawaii (Starr Starr and Loope 2003).

Education and public awareness are appropriate cultural controls to ensure the weed is not planted as an ornamental near environmentally precious areas. In countries with tropical regions and warm climates such as Palau it is recommended that troublesome species (including H. benghalensis) should be prevented from reaching the country and establishing in native ecosystems such as tropical rainforests. Weed species should receive high priority for exclusion from entry into the country and promptly evaluated for eradication if found to be present. It is essential that plant growers are aware of the species' potential to become invasive in the wild (Starr Starr and Loope 2003).